Waldhen

Waldhen (walðən) are an ethnic group consisting of dwarves and niedene native to the temperate, coastal forest of southeastern Alteniquia, entirely within the nation of Yimmu-Audal. The entire population of Waldhen lives within the city of Wyldvarn or within nearby settlements. The Waldhen population is estimated at between 95 and 120 thousand, of which around 80% are dwarves.

Waldhen speak Waldhe, a language isolate.

Under the rule of Azurian Syndicate, the Waldhen maintained a vassal state. Since the ascent of The Magisterium the Waldhen have been a subject of larger nations.

Etymology
The name Waldhen is transparently related to the Waldhe words walt (to speak) and dhe (a hill), from which the language also derives its name. Alternatively, it has been postulated by members of the Waldhendoig that the name comes from the word Weldreri, the name of a clan that existed prior to the First Coalition War.

Religion
Most Waldhen are followers of Siantach, a faith centered around an entity called Old Salt.

Siantach adherents believe that the world's natural state is ocean and that Old Salt raised the land and set loose the races of the world upon it. A common symbol of this faith are sealights, blue lights said to be guiding spirits sent by Old Salt to aid his faithful.

Pre Coalition War
When and how the Waldhen came to Alteniqua is unsure. Several theories have been proposed, from the Waldhen being descendants of dwarves from the north who migrated south prior to the destruction of Jagdas, to the religious explanation that the Waldhen simply sprung up from salt foam. Whatever origin is to be believed, the Waldhen lived in relative isolation along the coast of the Atsyllean Sea. The Waldhen were never united during this time and beyond temporary alliances the highest form of government was each village's chieftain. The dwarves made their living by fishing, hunting, and occasionally marauding small boats. It was during this time that Wyldvarn was founded by a legendary dwarf named Wyndyr the Grey. The Waldhen began a long decline around the time of the Jagdasian migrations. Most villages were abandoned and left to rot with little trace and little by little the dwarves were concentrated within Wyldvarn. During this time a Niedene nomad named Fernald Forkbeard settled with his band nearby and was hired by the chieftain of Wyldvarn to guard the city. Fernald and his men would become the progenitors of every non-dwarf Waldhen.

Welgam, then chieftain, had a vision in which he foresaw the destruction that would be wrought during the First Coalition War. In fear that he and his people would be caught between warring empires, he brought every Waldhen into the deep tunnels below Wyldvarn and locked himself and his people away from the outside world. For the next 200 years they would remain there while the arena of empires transpired above.

Emergence and Modern Day
Since their emergence from the underground in the aftermath of the Welgam's prophecized war the Waldhen have seen a period of prosperity. Finally united under a single high chieftain called the Tisiuch, they reclaimed the lands immediately surrounding Wyldvarn with the blessing of Dex Og. During this time Wyldvarn was an independent city state that payed homage and tax to Dex. Prisoners from the Waldhen's lands were even sent to Dex's pit as sacrifices.

The Waldhen's political freedom ended when Dex died; his succesor BackToTheHub rolled their city state into his new nation: The Magisterium. Despite this and setbacks caused by migrant bands the Waldhen continue to expand their influence into the present day, with the current Tisiuch also serving as Hertug of War within the Archduchy of Grandia.