Alfheim

Alfheim, officially the Republic of Alfheim is an independent nation located in the geographical center of the continent of Haven. Its 3 provinces border the Kushite Sea to the north, the Kingdom of Aurora to the east, Qeshbago to the south, and the Hearthstone Union to the west. It hosts a relatively large population however occupies a disproportionately small geographical area.

Its history prior to its official founding is mostly unknown due to the lack of written records, although the country's history was heavily steeped in war. What little is known indicates that the country was built upon the past settlements of Talawans, who migrated to Alfheim at some unknown point in time. Alfheimi, the primary language spoken in Alfheim, is notably distinct from the Imperial creole spoken throughout the rest of Haven, although it shares similarities with the languages native to the regions formerly belonging to the Kingdom of Aravind.

The nation was founded on the 3rd of August, 2021 by Piotik, DeltaImpact, NiftyZebra, Lebogie Bogićev, Supereone, Bridel and Adilol.

Etymology
For many millennia, Talawan settlers had long referred to the area that is now Chervonstad as Álfheim, derived from Alfheimi "álfr" for elf and "heim" for home; home of the elves. The land was so named due to Talawan folklore regarding the history of the land, with many claiming to be able to 'feel' the remains of the Ljósálfar civilization in the area.

The country legally adopted the official name of the Republic of Alfheim on its founding on August 3, 2021.

The Ljósálfar foundation myth
Main article: Founding of Cherva

It is known that Haven was inhabited by various races, most notably the ancient Giantfolk and Dwarven peoples. The existence of other races endemic to Haven is hotly contested, although it is known that elves, namely the Talawans, migrated into the area much later in time. One theorized race of elves that was said to be endemic to Haven, the Light Elves (Alfheimi: Ljósálfar), is purported to have first settled in what is now Chervonstad. The interior of Haven where the modern state of Alfheim lies now was a heavily-wooded region with alpine peaks; an area unsuitable for settlement except for more nimble and athletic elves. This presumably would have made the area favorable for settlement to the Ljósálfar.

Old Talawan folklore (Alfheimi: Saga) dictates that at an indeterminate point of time before any other political entity existed in Haven (or even the Old Kingdoms of Talawa), the Ljósálfar were first born in Haven's Heart, rising from the water into the skies. The Ljósálfar settled down in what is now Chervonstad and created great cities and structures made from living wood. The dense presence of magically adept Elves supposedly birthed a 'magical fabric' said to engulf the modern city of Chervonstad. The Ljósálfar soon encountered the Dark Elves (Alfheimi: Dökkálfar), warring for 10,000 years until their banishment to the moon by the same deity that had created them.

Details of the Talawan tale are hard to verify given that the Elves made no permanent structures; both the Ljósálfar and Dökkálfar were said to be innately connected to nature and thus avoided disturbing their lands. It is entirely possible that the wooden settlements made by them have long since disappeared with no trace. The only evidence that the Ljósálfar existed is the presence of a potent field of indeterminate magic surrounding Chervonstad today, as well as evidence of heavy mining using magic in the Valeria Salt Mines long before the commercial mining of salt there by the Talawans or Alfheim Mining Corporation. The existence of the Dökkálfar is not supported by evidence at all, although leading Alfheimi scholars theorize that the Dökkálfar were instead a mythological allegory for the Giantfolk that was popularized by the Talawans, who had been driven southwards into Chervonstad by their migration.

Settlement by the Talawan Elves
Main article: Hapatmitas

The Talawans, native to Ummarnu, settled in areas of northern Haven throughout the expansion of the Old Kingdom. The dethroned Aruna the Conqueror, daughter of an unknown king of the Old Kingdom, sent her armies into Hapatmitas after being denied power in the ancient town of Lukka. Having successfully captured the city, she cemented Talawan influence in Haven whereas her predecessors failed. From here, the expansion of Talawans southward was guaranteed, as they would later compose the majority of inhabitants of Haven.

There is little knowledge of what happened in what is now Alfheim during this period, although archaeological evidence definitively shows that various unknown nomadic peoples as well as the Talawans lived in the area. It is generally agreed that they lived there independent of the Old Kingdom. The Talawans, unlike the Ljósálfar, are historically known to have created permanent structures out of stone. For this reason, the Mountains of Aravind (now the Alfheimi provinces of Faeheim and Midgard) were especially appealing, as a source of rock was always readily available.

Knowledge of what other races existed here during this time is scarce, although the Talawans were not the first to settle in what is now the Arvalian Mountains. The Giantfolk are documented to have lived in what is now Axel, while Mountain Dwarves lived in the mountains of Dunwulch. The dwarves, aware of the Giants' need for space, gladly settled underground to avoid conflict and burrowed into the mountains while the Giantfolk made expansive cities.

The Dearmani Empire, an early human lordship, led several incursions into the Aravind region, culminating in the extermination of the Giantfolk and collapse of the ancient settlement in Axel. The Talawans were forced to flee southwards to what is now Chervonstad as the migration of fleeing Giants was of a significant disturbance to the Elves. With the absence of the Giants and Talawans, the Mountain Dwarves emerged from their homes and would later become the dominant force in the Arvalian Mountains, going on to establish the Kingdom of Aravind. The Dearmani, pursuing a policy of genocide against the remaining Giants and dwarves, collapsed as a result of internal struggles before managing to exterminate who would later become the Aravind Dwarves. The Giants, however, were not as fortunate, and some of the few remains of their civilization are visible in the Axe of Axel.

Following the migrations, scholars have gleaned that a settlement of Talawans and other races founded a town named Cherva in the forests of what is now Chervonstad, although little else is known about their life here. It is theorized they were led by a town elder, although most details regarding Cherva have not been verified and have been passed down by oral tradition for many generations.

The Kingdom of Wahar and the Safiri
Many millennia later, the Empire of Uldarash, formed in part by the majority of Talawans who now lived in Haven, would grow to encompass the region that would later become Alfheim. Prior to this, the Kingdom of Wahar had, at some point, administrated Cherva within a region it dubbed 'Khainen.' Little is known about what life looked like under the Kingdom of Wahar, and even fewer is known about who they were. Wahar, being a protectorate of the Empire of Uldarash, leads scholars to infer that the security offered to the growing town of Cherva was vital in its continued success. Archaeological evidence from this period suggests Cherva was a modest settlement, capable of supporting itself but lacking any semblance of grandeur. It was also during this period that a nomadic peoples named the Safiri temporarily inhabited the Khainen region. Nothing save for their existence has been documented, and their origins and disappearance are a complete mystery.

The disappearance of the Talawans
Owing to Cherva's status as an unknown backwoods village, few first or second-hand writings have documented it. Most knowledge concerning the ancient settlement has instead been deduced from archaeological evidence. What is known is that at some point in Wahar's history, Cherva was abandoned and thereafter was briefly settled by various nomadic tribes. The reason for the abandonment and where the Talawan inhabitants went is unknown.

The Second Empire of Uldarash
The birth of the Second Empire of Uldarash saw the Arvalian Mountains now permanently settled by the Kingdom of Aravind as a member state, whereas the lands of Dearman, now a member state, were located westwards. Imperial land encompassed the remainder of what would later grow to become Alfheim. Under the Empire, the other regions that would later be incorporated into the Republic of Alfheim developed in their own unique ways, leading to the differences in culture and language reflected contemporarily. Uldarashi control of the regions where Alfheim and Cherva lie now was pivotal in ensuring it would later be resettled.

The Red Turban Rebellion
Main article: Red Turban Rebellion

The Red Turban Rebellion was a failed attempt to overthrow the existing political powers in what is now Tortuga and install figures of its cause into power. The rebellion was put down, with the lead conspirators forced to escape and migrate elsewhere. The founders of the contemporary Republic of Alfheim were all key conspirators of the Red Turban Rebellion, most notably the man who would later go on to become the first Prime Minister of Alfheim, Delta 'DeltaImpact' Bolodrav.

Following their excursion from Tortuga, the founders would later migrate to the Second Empire of Uldarash, settling down in what was now Chervonstad, the name having evolved from Cherva at some indeterminate point in time. Successfully negotiating with Uldarashi Empress Caterina of Montroig for the land and well-liked by the inhabitants, the founders created a new nation. A republic by the name of 'Alfheim'; the native Talawan (Now Alfheimi) name for the region, was thus born. The Republic of Alfheim was officially founded on August 3, 2021 as a member state of Uldarash.

Chervonstad, formerly an insignificant village which was still mostly forested area, was heavily developed by the founders. The original city featured architecture taken from the founders' former settlements; notably standardized and colorful box-shaped housing which appealed heavily to the Talawans used to living in modest cottages.

The Alvarian Confederation
On September 1, 2021, King Alvar II 'Silver20632222' the Foolish and PM Delta Bolodrav decided to merge the Kingdom of Aravind and the Republic of Alfheim into the Alvarian Confederation under the Treaty of the Midgard Union. With this, Alfheim had gained the provinces of Faeheim and Midgard. Swiftly realizing the mistake of relinquishing his power, Alvar II attempted to secede from the Confederation, only for Empress Caterina of Montroig to quash what she deemed to be a rebellion. Alvar II unceremoniously disappeared from the public eye, and with him, the rest of the inhabitants of Faeheim and Midgard, save for Flint the Dwarf, then mayor of the town of Dunwulch.

After the disappearance of Alvar II, the Arvalian Mountains became deserted as he claimed the citizens there had "all died of a plague". Later documents discovered in Dunwulch found this assertion to be a lie, and in fact the tyrant king had committed horrific acts of genocide against his own people. The people of Alfheim subsequently tore up the Midgard Union, returning to the status quo save for the incorporation of the provinces of Midgard and Faeheim into Alfheimi land.

Erasure of history
Some time between January 30, 2022 and February 1, 2022, the "COCK" sign, a national monument marking the supposed location where the fabled Vetrkocklingr perched and died was erased by a strange deity known as 'admin'. A large mourning ceremony was held as people discovered what had happened.

Geography
The geography and climate throughout Alfheim remains mostly uniform given her relatively small surface area. The majority of the country lies in boreal forests, also known as taiga biomes. These forests are situated on mostly jagged terrain, especially in northern Alfheim where the Arvalian Mountains dominate the landscape. Alfheim is surrounded by numerous rivers, the water offered by which is essential for allowing agriculture. Despite once being heavily wooded, deforestation and mass terraforming have led to the dense alpine forests disappearing around Alfheim. Despite taiga constituting a majority of land in Alfheim, the Chevkri land surrounding Chervonstad consists of rainforest; considered unusual due to its proximity to the cold.

Biodiversity
The cold climate in Alfheim makes its biosphere home to only a few niche organisms, notably the Alpine Rooster which was first bred in the Arvalians several thousand years ago.

Climate
Temperatures in Alfheim have been known to drop well below -20 °C throughout all times of the year. Severe snow storms and blizzards are frequent and can occur unexpectedly. Her climate is mostly characterized by frigid temperatures sometimes dropping below -40 °C. The pattern of cold weather in the country has made farming non-viable in many regions as the soil remains covered in dense layers of permafrost. Average temperatures in Alfheim during the winter have been known to range anywhere from -53 °C to -12 °C. Summer average temperatures tend to behave even more erratically, ranging anywhere from -31 °C to 21 °C.

Government and politics
Main article: Government of the Republic of Alfheim

Alfheim's government is modelled off of Montroig's representative democracy. Features of this include parliamentary sovereignty and elected executive branch officials. A distinct judicial branch does not exist.