The Pale

The Pale (pronounced /ðə peɪl/) was an independent nation established by lone war veteran Wulfgar Ironback. It was established on August 7th, 2021, with the creation of its capital, Karthhold with the nation lasting almost a year.

Establishment
After the end of the war between Markia and a union of Santos and Caladinia, High King Wulfgar Ironback approached the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Avaria to purchase a small island on the southern coast in order to found his new kingdom.

On August 7th, 2021, the fledgling city was founded, and it quickly grew into a thriving capital. Its eastern hold, Greywatch, was purchased from the Empire of Aristios in order to expand the kingdom's reach throughout the world of Eldham.

The C.o.A.C. Near-Miss
On September 25th, war was nearly declared between The Pale and the Confederation of Anarchist Communes over the small artificial island of New Honshu. Through diplomatic maneuvering, however, war was averted, and the territory was purchased from the Confederation for a relatively paltry sum.

The Eldham Central Market
On October 26th, Councilor Jamesh Bond declared the Eldham Central Market (ECM) open to the public. The ECM is still one of the largest markets in Eldham and boasts stalls stocked by laymen from both The Pale and abroad. After a period of inactivity, Councilor Cyrillus is undertaking a revamp and expansion of the ECM starting in late February.

The Absorption of Wolfswood
On October 29th, a treaty was signed between the Duchess Mayley and High King Wulfgar Ironback, absorbing the territory of Wolfswood into the Pale. This treaty was possible due to consent from the Kingdom of Avaria to relinquish the last of their holdings on the continent of Eldham. This territory acquisition tripled the size of the Pale, and added four new holds. The capitals of these holds are Faalenheim, Kar-Al-Gor, Perria, and Winver.

The Sand War
Officially beginning on November 6th, the The Sand War was a conflict fought between the Zamotz Union and People's Republic of Merconis. The Pale, being an ally of Merconis joined the allied forces along with the United Socialist States of Eldham. The conflict arose from a land border dispute between Zamotz and Merconis, concerning the desert surrounding Surif. After being delayed multiple times, a battle was fought at Fort Merconis in the capital city of Oblitus Oris.

The Battle of Oblitus Oris was ultimately a Zamotzian victory. The Pale was basically unaffected by the talks, gaining a border with Uraka. Following the war, relations with the Zamotz Union quickly improved.

The Second Sand War
Following Merconis' declaration of independence from Uraka, Merconis once again found cause for war against the Zamotz Union. The Pale refused Merconis' call to arms, and ultimately joined the Zamotz Union to form the Onthukhan Defense Force (ODF) headed by Oathmarshall Jib and comprising 11 nations. The ensuing conflict would come to be known as the Second Sand War, or Onthukhan War. The ODF was successful in enforcing demands on the nation of Merconis. All Merconian land in Eldham was annexed by The Pale.

Onthukhan Pact
In the wake of the Second Sand War, many leaders on the continent saw the utility in a continent wide alliance. Oathmarshall Jib drafted a loose agreement that was signed by all Onthukhan nations. This treaty is known as the Onthukhan Pact.

The High King
The Pale is a constitutional monarchy, led by High King Wulfgar Ironback. The High King is responsible for the general administration of the nation, appointing Jarls and High Council members, representing the state diplomatically, as well as conflict resolution within The Pale. Additionally all of the land in the Pale is legally owned by the High King but is governed by the Jarls. The High King personally governs the capital hold of Karthold.

The High Council
The High Council of The Pale is the governing body of the nation. It is the responsibility of council members to create laws and policies to uphold the rights of freemen of the Pale. Councilors may be given specific duties such as management of certain areas of government involvement, such as military, trade, or culture. There is no set number of council members at any given time, as the number of seats grows and diminishes to fit the needs of the nation.

Jarls and Stewards
The Pale is subdivided into a number of provinces called Holds. The High King assigns a Freemen to act as the governor of a hold, known as a Jarl. The job of the Jarl is to keep order within their respective hold and lead their freemen in projects and culture. Each Jarl must select a citizen of their hold to serve as a Steward, who acts as a "second in command" position within a hold's power structure. Stewards may be appointed to provide experience for prospective future jarls, relieve jarls of their workload, or provide additional assistance to citizens.

Holds may also contain Hold Governments, consisting of elected officials to administer different areas of government, such as trade or military; however, such government bodies are not a requirement.

Mayors and Local Governments
Towns and settlements that are not hold capitals (Jarl's authority) are governed by Mayors or local governments. The method of appointing a mayor varies between settlements with some being democratically elected, being appointed by Jarls, or simply by founding a town. It is the responsibility of the local government to assist their citizens and maintain order under Pale Law.

The Wardens
The Wardens are an organization of peacekeeping officials within the Pale. The Wardens act as a sort of police force or standing army of the Pale and serve various civil duties such as protecting natural landscapes or enforcing the law. Prospective wardens must issue a formal application to the High Council to be given such a position.

Holds
The Pale is subdivided into a number of administrative provinces known as Holds. Each hold is led by a Jarl and a Steward, with some formal Hold Governments or Councils.

Culture
Lord Astithrai Nyarlathotep is The Pale's Minister of Culture and has been credited with many artistic works for the nation. On November 18th, a national anthem for The Pale was composed.

Religion
The dominant religion of the Pale is Skjotunhra, a religion founded by Jarl Kaidus Ariano, who doubles as the Kingdom's Speaker of the Dead.

Geography
Both Karthhold and Greywatch reside in cold taiga environments, complimenting the Freemen's penchant for hunting and farming in the frigid temperatures that the taiga provides. Karthhold is situated on an island on the south coast of Avaria, while Greywatch is situated inland with a river connection to the ocean south of The Free States of Tortuga. The northern holds acquired from Wolfswood have a mixture of taiga, mountain, and plains biomes.

Vexillology
The flag of The Pale utilizes three colors, with dark grey and light grey being separated by a light blue stripe. A bear rests on a shield in the middle of the flag with the phrase "Morsu Resistere" listed below it, translating to "Resist and Bite!", the war-chant of the Pale.