Valdic People

The Valdic People are an ethnic group of humans native to Sorligste. The group have dwelled in the continents eastern lands for many centuries, forming small petty-kingdoms for much of their history.

Currently, the majority of the Valdic population reside within Frostmarch, although Soumere has a large population in its Kronesian Annexes. Much of the Valdic population has recently disappeared during the Kronesian Vanishing, estimated to number around 20, 000. It is unclear exactly how many dwell throughout the rest of Rathnir, but both cultural and linguistic similarities across the Rough Sea imply major migrations may have occured.

Prehistory
Little is concretely understood of the history of the Valdic. They originally dwelled in the Old March region of modern Frostmarch, along the Artir River, although ancient migrations south and west occurred following dramatic climate shifts. In southward migrations, conflicts would occur with the Kapalanan cultures (precursor peoples of Pahonja), who had control over much of the coastal south.

Due to the harsh climate, the population relied heavily on fishing to sustain stable populations, and technological advancement was slow. Eventually, through naval trade with the Kapalanan, bronze working was introduced to the region, and progress in tilling the land began. From here, the increase in urbanisation and population lead to the first Jarldoms.

Early History
Early Valdic history is composed of dozens of minor petty Jarldoms, jockeying amongst each other for regional dominance. Despite technological advancements, life expectancy remained low due to constant conflicts between the Jarldoms.

Over time, Valdic Society would steadily progress, and the many dozens of Jarldoms would coalesce into greater powers, the most powerful being Skjaldreyja, Erðvald, Suðerlind and Norðurstod, along with the Kapalanan temple city of Grajavit.

Trisected March
As contact between the Jarldoms increased, conflict began to arise over the River Danor, which was used to ferry tin and copper southward. Through control of the river, and by extension the trade of bronze, three of the Jarldoms would grow to immense strength.

Norðurstod, despite its barren, rocky soils would accumulate wealth through the abundance of tin it had access to, which was incredibly scarce in this period. Erðvald's defensive position afforded it the ability to project power over vast lands without risking attack. Grajavit, being part of the greater Kapalanan sphere, was able to use its position and cultural influence to dominate trade, and ferry supplies from the Danor to Kapalanan cities south.

For a period of around 200 years, these nations would reign as undisputed superpowers amongst the Valdic State, even establishing trade connections with northern Akratian communities. Due to their power, the nations would frequently clash over control of the Danor and coastlines.

Toward the end of this period, the Danor would begin to slowly dry as glaciers of the Syktar Mountains were displaced. As precious tin could no longer be ferried southward as easily, both Norðurstod and Grajavit diminished in influence, and the period of intense warring would end.

Classical Valdic Age
During this time, Valdic society would meet its first period of cultural development. With travel safe between the Jarldoms, trade began, and the once local stories travelled across the March through the mouths of bards and poets. A great deal of epic poetry was written in this time, largely centred around the large numbers of northern migrants entering previously Valdic realms and the conflicts that would ensue.

In this time, the cities of Grajavit and Norðurstod would be laid to ruin by foreign invaders. Norðurstod's ruin came by mercantile operations seeking to exploit the local ice spikes. Grajavit's destruction is far more speculative, however, as its assailants have never been concretely identified.

First Empire of the March
During the conflicts against the colonial migrants of the northern Empires, one great leader would rise, Horfan of Skjaldreyja. His leadership would unite many of the displaced northerners into one great host, which he would lead on his infamous crusades.

While these conquests were portrayed as a resistance against invaders, his army would more often fight with rival Valdic Kingdoms than colonial ones. Following 13 years of war, the Valdic Empire was established, stretching across much of the Old March, Suthistoð and Nordurstoð.

Following the expulsion of many of the colonial settlements, Horfan lead his host into the wastes to construct the Horfanvirk, a potentially fictional fortress. He and his host would never again be seen, although rumour of the mythic Horfanvirk would hang over the Valdic for much of its history.

Declining Empire
The Valdic Empire established by Horfan would be managed by his son, Halvag, following his mysterious disappearance. While Halvag would do his best to maintain the realm by expanding infrastructure of travel between Jarldoms, he would continuously encounter resistance from his subjects, increasingly unwilling to cooperate without a foe to rally against.

Over the generations, the power of Skjaldreyja would continue to wane, as no means to exert power could be established. Under the reign of Bjørn Blackhand, a brief revival would occur, although it would be cut short during his western campaigns, where he was killed in combat at the age of 23.

In total, the Valdic Empire would only last approximately 260 years.

Dark Age
Following the collapse of the Valdic Empire, the March would descend once more to its regional bickering. Technological progress beyond its shores made much of the world less reliant on tin for the production of weaponry, which began the regions long fall into irrelevancy. A combination of poor harvests, spreading disease and colonial incursion would intensify the collapse in the West, which lost much of its ancient nations and cultures.

Sorligste Confederation
Some of the arriving colonists saw opportunity to reunify and modernise the March by establishing a unified confederation of all the March's many states, although they encountered significant issue in coaxing native Valdic peoples to coexist. Eventually, efforts to subdue and pacify Valdic culture occured. This plan had initial success, but ultimately failed.

An Anti-Confederate movement began to grow amongst the Valdic peoples, largely amongst the people of the eastern coast, who still held to their traditional culture. This movement was lead by Jarl Gunnar of Erðvald and Jarl Theidr Skjaldreyja, along with a multitude of foreign individuals that would later become the Five Jarls of Frostmarch.

Arrival of the Five Jarls
These individuals had come from the far north, arriving in the ports of Erðvald to spread word of an adapted canon of local folklore, which they called "Nostikur Kensla" literally translating to Wise Esoteric Teachings. These five were Green, Beans, Epic, Train and Cryo. They claimed to have arrived from another plane, bringing with them knowledge of powerful rituals. Whether by luck of by intention, these "Nostikur" teachings aligned closely to traditional Valdic practices, leading many amongst the populous to see them as prophets.

Jarl Gunnar would take particular interest in these visitors, calling him into his tower many a night for what the populous believed were attempts to scry into the future. Following Gunnar's death by an undiagnosed illness, traditional fights of succession would occur amongst challengers. Rather unexpectedly, Green was to participate in the fights.

Green's chief competitor, the son of the late Jarl, would cede from the match mere hours before its beginning for reasons he refused to disclose. By default, Green was awarded Jarldom over Erðvald.

With command of the military, the now Jarl Green immediately broke away from the Confederation and declared Frostmarch's independence. At this point, the history as chronicled on the main Frostmarch page begins.