Alfheim

Alfheim, officially the Republic of Alfheim is an independent country located in the approximate geographical center of the continent of Haven. Its four provinces border the Kushite Sea to the north, the Horde to the south and east, and Hearthstone Yuldai to the west. It hosts a large and diverse population spanning across a modestly large surface area.

The races indigenous to Haven have continuously inhabited what is now Alfheim for several hundreds of thousands of years, notably the Giantfolk, Turiens, and the mythical Ljósálfar as attested to by the Talawans. These races are known to have segregated themselves with the exception of the elves, which continually cohabited peacefully. Following their exodus from Tortuga, Delta "DeltaImpact" Bolodrav, Piotik von Alfen, Nifty "NiftyZebra" von Alfen, LeBogie Bogićev, Supereone, Bridel and Adilol von Alfen Gooblegins founded the contemporary state of Alfheim on the 3rd of August, 2021 (Winter, 78 SMP) by giving the long-existing elven settlement in Chervonstad a national identity. During her tenure, Empress Caterina of Montroig had granted amnesty to the political refugees by allowing them to create Alfheim; a country founded upon the principles and beliefs of the many elves that inhabited it.

Its history is known to be tumultuous and filled with struggle, especially during the infamous Uldarash Civil War during which thousands of Alfheimi soldiers died. What little is known about Alfheim prior to its official founding indicates that the country was built upon the past settlements of Turiens and Talawans, the latter of which migrated to Alfheim at some unknown point in time. Alfheimi, the primary language spoken in Alfheim, is distinct from the Imperial creole spoken throughout the rest of Haven. Alfheimi had formed over several thousand years as a result of interaction between the Talawan languages hailing from Ummarnu while retaining significant influence from regional proto-languages of Haven.

Alfheim is governed by a representative democratic body hosted in Chervonstad. Members of Parliament are elected from each province of Alfheim to vote on law and matters of importance to the country, while a separate executive branch performs the critical functions of governance in accordance with law. Alfheim plays an important role in its regional politics due to its extensive connections and alliances with other countries, but also due to a strong economy and industrial output. Alfheim has long been influenced by its complex relationships with its neighbors, especially the Second Empire of Uldarash and its successor states; the former of which Alfheim was a significant aggravating factor in the dissolution of.

Etymology
Talawan settlers had referred to the area that is now Chervonstad for millennia as Álfheim, derived from Alfheimi "álfr" for elf and "heim" for home; home of the elves. The land was so named due to the dense population of elves who had continuously lived in Chervonstad for thousands of years and due to Talawan folklore regarding the history of the land, with many elves 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 (Winter, 78 SMP).

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
Main article: 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 (Winter, 78 SMP) 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
Main article: Alvarian Confederation

On September 1, 2021 (Spring, 85 SMP), King Alvar II 'Silver' 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.

The Depression
The period between the inauguration of PM Piotik and inauguration of PM Ashley Luon Alfricanus van Barcht in September of 2021 (Spring, 85 SMP to Fall, 92 SMP) is considered by many Alfheimi to be a stagnant state for the nascent country. Issues regarding scarcity of resources, lack of housing, and a rapidly dwindling population plagued the country following the dissolution of the Alvarian Confederation. It was during this period that serious consideration was made by the government and a popular movement led by Rettery Von Burg as to the succession of the democratic Alfheimi government with a despot; or even returning Alfheim to its status as imperial land of Uldarash. Fortunately, these issues were addressed with the election of PM Ashley during her October 2021 (Winter, 93 SMP to Winter, 100 SMP) term, as she opened multiple programs to benefit the people and government and as both her cabinet & Nifty von Alfen competed to make Chervonstad and Axel the most populous cities in Uldarash.

PM Ashley continued to make further attempts to reform Alfheim into a powerful nation commanding respect despite Alfheim at this point being frequently received by imperial politicians in Hapatmitas and Fornost as an object of ridicule. Her work on the Alfheimi Constitution Act, 2022 began in November of 2021 (Spring, 100 SMP to Winter, 108 SMP), but was completely and immediately halted at the onset of imminent war.

The Axel Militia
The question of the city of Axel's loyalty to the Republic was thrown into question as tensions between Nifty von Alfen and Ashley Luon Alfricanus van Barcht grew as a result of a dispute over the legitimacy of the former's claim to the land. Cooperation gave way to rivalry as the cabinet of the incumbent Prime Minister and the Town Elders of Axel competed to recruit more citizens into their respective cities as well as construct more grand infrastructure. In one notorious incident, the house of PM Ashley was visited by a group of 10 armed individuals wearing armor including Nifty himself who entered the front door without permission. This act was interpreted as an intimidation tactic, although some argue that it merely was a "friendly visit".

Tensions grew further as Nifty founded the "Axel Militia," a militia of citizens residing within Axel who fought independently of the Republican Guard. This drew immediate ire from Chervonstad and was viewed as an attempt by Nifty to secede from the Republic. The climax of tensions occurred when Wholesomeveil, a citizen living in Axel and a prominent member of the Axel Militia, was discovered in a conspiracy to destroy the Uldarashi Empire and Alfheim. He made a swift retreat to an artificially built island in the Gulf of Axel named Vale, where his operations would continue to take place. PM Ashley, aware of the plot, swiftly contacted Uldarashi officials both to ensure the Axel Militia would fail in a potential secession from the Republic, and to crush the island of Vale in a mission codenamed Operation Iron Sugma.

Due to the tendencies of Vale to loot surrounding areas, especially those in the former Chevkri Republic, successful deescalating talks between the Axel Town Elders and the central government, and the Uldarashi Schism, the Axel Militia was peacefully disbanded and Axel's loyalty to the Republic was reestablished.

The Uldarashi Civil War
Main article: Uldarash Civil War

Following the events of the Uldarashi Schism, Alfheim pledged firm allegiance to the Loyalists in support of Empress Caterina of Montroig owing to the general dislike of the Kingdom of Aurora present throughout Alfheim and much of Rathnir, but also due to the founding of the modern state of Alfheim being a direct result of Caterina's amnesty. PM Ashley who was the wartime leader of Alfheim made desperate hurried attempts to reform the Alfheimi military into a capable fighting force; something she had been doing slowly prior to hints of war. Massive industrial efforts spearheaded by her were undertaken producing hundreds of Protection IV diamond sets and countless more potions, although logistical problems continued to plague the Loyalist supply chain regardless; especially as many supplies were consumed by foreign allies or conscripts without training.

Alfheim's maiden deployment of her troops was at the Battle of Canine, a small island member state of Uldarash located in the Kushite Sea. The skirmish sought to establish control of the strategic strongpoint. Despite logistical concerns at this stage being minimal, the combined Alfheimi-Montroigian force, which had consisted of some of the finest Loyalist soldiers and led by PM Ashley herself, were unequivocally slaughtered at a ratio higher than 10 Loyalists to 1 Monarchist.

The damage to morale following the loss was apparent, but problems regarding logistics and the higher-ranking officers, a majority of whom were Montroigian, were regarded by Alfheim as ineffective and non-communicative, continued to diminish projections that Loyalist victory was possible even with such overwhelming international support. Furthermore, the biggest factor contributing to a Loyalist loss was a lack of manpower and experience; Alfheim hosted a large population, but many were not trained enough to fight. Among those who could reliably serve, only a handful met or exceeded the skill displayed by the average Monarchist soldier.

Further losses occurred at the Battle of Terroja, including an attempted Loyalist attack on Northport during the events at Terroja, prompting several nations (many of whom never even fought) to withdraw support for the Loyalists, leading to further morale and logistical issues. The subsequent Hapatmitas-Chevkri Campaign, during which Alfheim suffered a decisive crippling defeat at the Battle of Hapatmitas, had effectively paralyzed further Alfheimi intervention for the remainder of the war as logistics were now too far strained by the failed siege. It is rumored that PM Ashley's disappearance from December of 2021 to February of 2022 (Spring, 108 SMP to Summer, 123 SMP) was in fact due to her untimely death at Hapatmitas. During the battle, she attempted to lead troops onto her to allow her to push in near the walls of Hapatmitas for the placement of capture blocks, but was instead said to be killed when in the middle of the battle a Bardonian soldier without authority sounded retreat causing an effective rout and the falling back of most troops to Republica Square. Regardless of what truly happened, historians cite the disorderly conduct and inexperience of the numerically-superior sieging force (mostly Bardonian volunteers and untrained Alfheimi soldiers) as the primary reason for defeat.

Mercifully, Chervonstad was never attacked, likely due to Aurora's priority now turned to dealing with the Eldham Entente's intervention in the Uldarash Civil War. At the de facto conclusion of the war, Alfheim was reaccepted into Uldarash but paid no reparations; instead being forced to be governed by an Imperial watchman, Timeken for approximately a month. Following this and the disappearance of Ashley, the de facto Prime Minister became Nifty 'The Absent' von Alfen, while the de jure Prime Minister Adilol became an important liaison between a war-battered crippled Alfheim and Uldarash. Plans were even made for a complete exodus of Alfheim and for an eventual reclamation of Chervonstad in the event of occupation, which fortunately never occurred. The future of Alfheim during the mostly uneventful tenure of Nifty von Alfen was uncertain.

Defacement of national monument
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. In its stead, a second sign was erected in the same location reading '1984', referencing the 1,984 days the Vetrkocklingr stood there.

The collapse of the Second Empire of Uldarash
Main article: Second Empire of Uldarash

The political and economic state of Alfheim remained precarious following the civil war. It was however, during the tenure of PM Victrix van Barcht, succeeding Nifty, that Alfheim faced its first renaissance made permissible by the legacy of PM Ashley. Several important figures, most notably Finn 'GameOnFinn' Belgrave, Shae Occidotheon-Morningstar and Reinhartt 'Hartt' Sternhammer performed the indispensable work vital to the modernization of the Republic underneath the office of Victrix van Barcht.

The newfound stable footing Alfheim had worked itself onto lent greater credence to its repeated desire for democratic reform within Uldarash, and, under intense internal pressure, Empress Scotch Knight of Sanctuary made the difficult choice to dissolve the ancient Empire of Uldarash for the sake of preserving peace on Haven and to avoid a second civil war.

Independence
Following the dissolution of Uldarash, a newly-independent Alfheim was a major player in the Union of Haven, whose participation was lead by Victrix van Barcht under the tenure of PM Ashley, who had returned as mysteriously as she disappeared in February of 2022. The Union of Haven was one of the many international cooperatives formed as an answer to the growing threat of external invasion of Haven. Unfortunately, due to the now landmark legal case Rexhold v. Alfheim et al among other factors, Alfheimi participation in the Union of Haven was short lived, and following Alfheim's withdrawal, collapsed.

At this point, the Republic of Alfheim was now indisputably independent, satisfying many Alfheimi nationalists, most notably including Piotik, Ashley, and Adilol.

Reformation
The work begun in November of 2021 on reforming Alfheim into a modernized and powerful state continued. A new constitution penned by Ashley Luon Alfricanus van Barcht was ratified in June of 2022, and the changes currently being implemented in Alfheimi society have been received well universally, attracting many looking to assimilate into Alfheim, including Montroig and even unexpected critics of Alfheim such as Rexhold.

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