Friholm

Friholm is a small nation located in western Sparwood, with the capital city built around the Gulf of Friholm next to the Sea of Astyllea. Friholm consists of Friholm proper, Kringal and various sub claims.

Featured Photos
[Old Photos, from July/August of 2021]

=Friholm= The Dogedom is not just known for its beautiful medieval city, but also for the serenity and relaxation its citizens enjoy. Those who live in the city are well-connected, everyone knows everyone, and are open to just enjoying life.

"We live in a very contemporary state of time."

- — Vandoro

"I don't think we do [have any issues]. Pretty stable community"

- — HorudenMC

Etymology
The name Friholm is Swedish, and directly translates to "Free Peninsula".

This is to signify the sovereignty and independence of Friholm. It also describes Friholm's standing as a port due to its geological situation, while emphasizing the focus of Friholm's free market.

Additionally, the name reflects Friholm's in-lore history. as its people moved to the location and established the town as a bid for economic and diplomatic freedom from their original lands.

Founding, Independance and the First Doge
Friholm was founded on 23 May 2021 by Profilman as the Doge and AgentL00 as the Consul. Initially a member of the United Kingdoms of Western Sparwood, Friholm broke from the nation following The West Sparwood Crisis and proclaimed itself an independent city-state — declaring its neutrality in any upcoming conflict. Friholm officially became free on the 7th June 2021. As Friholm could not yet defend itself, talks began regarding Friholm joining the nation of Viodoxa as a Free City. These talks would ultimately fail as Viodoxa would collapse due a coup d'état on 19th June 2021. On the 9th June, Friholm entered a military alliance with Tortuga.

The First Council
[20th July — 22nd August] - 2021

Friholm started as a purely oligarchic state, with Profilman, Agent, and Prapic acting as a triumverate. However, on 19th July it was announced that a democratically elected council would be instated. On the 23rd of July 2021, the prospective candidates of this first council election took part in an official debate concerning Friholm's future. The debate was mainly focused on foreign policy and taxation. Voting began at 18:00 CET on the 24th of July 2021, with voting ending at 11:00 CET the next day. The results determined that Draco Furno, Wassel, and Vandoro would be the new council members. The guild seats would go to ilovejong, TMaterial, and later, Micted.

Funded by Prapic, Friholm purchased the end of the Friholmian peninsula from Tortuga. Shortly after, Friholm joined them in the Allium-Coalition War, honoring their alliance. In the aftermath of this war, more land was purchased from the defeated Bardonia. This deal — funded by Prapic, Landsmin and Wassel — effectively quadrupled the size of Friholm's domain.

After the second national assembly — during which the first district was officially declared finished — TMaterial finished the construction of a temporary hippodrome and hosted the first horse race in Friholm's history; drawing in nobles from Uldarash, Tortuga, and many other nations to race/watch.

On 12th August, the first Constitution of Friholm was adopted. This bill outlined the government and laws of Friholm and the rights of citizens.

During this time, the government of the neighbouring city of Kringal collapsed. On 13th August, the city's remaining leadership agreed to join with Friholm, being absorbed as a new district.

The Second Council and the first Viceroy -2021
[August 22nd- September 17th]

The second election saw Wassel and DracoFurno re-elected, and introduced Illegal and Starwars as new council members. ilovejong and TMateria l would be guild leaders.

A good portion of Friholm's leadership and citizenship went inactive due to schooling returning to many people's lives. Among the casualties was Profil, Agent, and some council members. As such, Profil decided to hand Wassel, a very active member in Friholm, the role of acting-Doge/Viceroy to manage Friholm.

The rest of this councilship oversaw no noticable changes both domestically and externally.

The Third Council
[September 26th- October 31st] 2021

The third election had Starwars, Trix, and Ryowan be the new council members, whilst ilovejong and TMaterial returned as guild leaders.

Wassel, overseeing the continued construction of the rich district, announced a building day to resume progress.

This Council ended as Friholm emerged victorious from the Halloween Event, in which our lands became a great battleground against the demons of both hell and night.

The Fourth Council
[October 31st- November 21st] 2021

The fourth election found Trix, Ryowan, Starwars, and TMateria l to be the new council members.

Friholm saw the creation of a defensive pact with Aldovir, the second alliance next to Tortuga.

Many in Friholm got married; most notably the Viceroy, Wassel, married the Chancellor/Princess of Tulipia, Sami. Whilst not a political marriage, it incidentally brought the two great nations closer together.

A third national assembly was held in efforts to reform Friholm's constitution. The constitution was then amended in order to expand and reconstruct the legal system.

The Fifth Council and the Second doge 2021
[November 28th-December 27th]

The fifth election saw Trix, starwars, and TMaterial as council members. The Doge announced the construction of a grand new keep in the highlands east of Friholm. The corination of Wassel was held infront of the still unfinished Grand keep, a rather unruly and unorganized affair that was saved by alcohol and games.

The Sixth Council
[December 27th-January 30th] 2021

The sixth council consisted of Trix,starwars18098 and TMaterial. During the time of the Sixth Council Friholm officially participated in two wars of which the most significant was the Loria-Borhammar War where Friholm joined Borhammer against Loria. The less important of the two conflicts that Friholm participated in during this time was the Second Lionorian revolt on the side of Tortuga. A grand endeavor to revitalize the district of Kringal was undertaken by MojangWasMyIdea.

The Seventh Council and its abolishment
[January 30th-June] 2022

A period of inactivity and decline as leaders lacked motivation. Friholm became part of Tortuga. It was during this period that the elected council was abolished and replaced with a permanent one selected by the Doge.

There were several attempts to appoint new motivated Doges but the success was never lengthy due to various reasons.

The Third Doge
[June - Now] 2022

Tormeire first of his name became Doge after a rather tumultuous period.

Friholm initially joined The Confederation of Reinrose under the leadership of Tormeire. The Reinrose Confederation eventually collapsed and Friholm joined Valondor. This did not last either as Valondor, including Friholm, was annexed by Tortuga after Spades's abdication.

Tormeire's reign has been one of growth, progress and peace marked by new grand projects commencing both above and below ground. Notably, a long standing goal to finish the buildings surrounding the grand square was completed.

This is the story of the grand city state of Friholm, so far...

Founding
"Our fore-fathers were merchants who settled down in what is now Friholm in an attempt to avoid a fear that trade regulations might grow in Rathnir. Their flotillas of trading ships were disassembled, and the timber was used to found the first settlement in Friholm."

- — Profilman

Initially the town was set up with each family as equals, the autocracy was abolished as the founding of a new settlement acted as an equalizer, and a rudimentary parliamentary system was set up. Profilman's ancestors quickly rose to power in parliament, gaining a fast majority, allowing the family to pursue a military coup. The family consolidated power quickly and established themselves as the new monarchy. The parliament was restructured into an elective council and its primary function became to regulate the power of the new monarch. It is the system they created that presides in Friholm to this day.

Friholm was established on the basic values of keeping the peace, and giving opportunity to everyone to pursue what they love freely, whilst being protected and uninterrupted from outside threats. Such focuses that people love to do are building, writing, and roleplaying.

Politics
Friholm's Government is a Constitutional Autocracy, lead by a Doge. Much of Friholm's politics is inspired by, and is in part based on, Renaissance-era Venice.

Most decisions were before its dissolution made by an elected council. Originally, there were 6 seats on the council; three for guild leaders, and three for representatives democratically elected by citizens. However, guilds eventually became inactive and so the positions granted to guilds were removed.

During the time of the council, a National Assembly was hosted at least once a month. Here, citizens engaged in open debate and question members of the council regarding policy and current events.

Pre-history
Around 1676 years before the present day tribal ancestors of Friholm inhabited a distant temperate land much like modern Friholm. They had seafaring ambitions of discovering a large landmass unknown to the rest of the world (which at the time to their knowledge only included themselves).The tale of the ancients begins in a now forgotten land.

As the ancients discovered small islands to the west they eventually landed on the shores of a new large uncharted landmass. This landmass turned out to be the great continent of Sparwood. There they found other peoples and cultures. Many of the ancient Friholmians became merchants due to their nautical skills and over time a great Friholmian trading fleet grew under the directive of a central oligarhic merchants' council. And it was so the Friholmian people remained until the founding of the city state of Friholm.

The only surviving relics of this era is the boat that crashed on the shores of Alteniquia and was restored to its former state by the descendants of those who built it hundreds of years ago and a map produced by the lead voyager the day before his expedition. Modern Friholmians returned to this peninsula and found the boat across the sea and was returned to them by the people of Astyllea and reconstructed by the community.

Religion
Friholm maintains freedom of religion. Currently, there is no one religion followed by the majority of the citizens of Friholm.

Although there are rumors of a mysterious cult that inhabits the old sewers and underground halls of the city.

The Legend of the Cursed Walkers
Told by the Orange Poet

In the newly founded port of Friholm, there lies a tale that would change the city forever. The Azurian fleet, who were chasing the first Frilenders, was defeated in an epic battle, inside a crimson storm. The survivors arrived to the land while the others sank into the violent waves. The Frilenders, ordered by Captain Flunk, started the construction of the famous port. when they were finally done, the merchants were plenty, the people were happy, and with the blessing of bliss, the city grew larger and wealthy. However, the dead Azurians were not done. The storm was a weird one, reviving those who drowned inside his grasp. The many corpses stood up and started walking, deep down on the abyss floor.

The moon shining is white light, The Azurian's walker, Friholm in sight, begun walking. Three merchant ships were docked in the port, three merchant ships, dormant they laid, two massive and one small, three merchant ship, that would have seen better days. One of the captains went to return to his home, but it was no more, only a wrecked vessel was left. He tried calling his crew, but there was only silence, another captain came and wore the same expression. The last captain was dead, a death that a sea lover would never wished, on a cursed port. They alerted the guards but they came too late. The Azurian's were there, in the city, their bloody hands, and with their eyes drowned in fear.

Guards started to attack these ghouls, but with no success, there were already deceased. Half of the guards died in minutes, no Azurians fell. They started to roam the city streets, the people, inside their homes, shook and preyed that their doors do not budge. Nonetheless, the walkers were not there for them, their presence in this world was only justified by the existence of their prey. Jimmy Jim, the future husband of an Azcurian noble. The chase was for him, and they will succeed. But they did not know, that he left many moons ago. he was gone, and the walkers was stuck, cursed to wander near the port. They left the streets and the massacres to sleep in the bay. Boats were destroyed, lives were taking, thinking to be Jimmy Jim's. But they still Wait, waiting for the spouse to return.

Geography
A flat cityscape, with a slight hill and incline to the west, surrounded by water. There it a small tributary that divides the city in-two; with the port on one side, and the wealthier market on the other.

Location
The City of Friholm is located in southeastern Rathnir, in the western portion of the continent of Sparwood. The nation is bordered by Tortuga and The Reinrose Confederation to the south and west, Tulipia and Azuria to the north, and Valagron to the east. Since 11th August 2021, the annexed nation of Kringal has been directly administered as a district of Friholm.

Friholm-Aldovir alliance
Military Alliance formed between the Empire of Aldovir and Friholm

Friholm-Tortugan alliance
The military alliance with Tortuga was signed by Ezlioth, the Captain of Blackrock; and Profilman, the Doge of Friholm. The military alliance saw both sovereignties pledging military aid in times of need, and promising not to attack or betray the other, upon a condition of a one time delivery of bread to Tortuga from Friholm.