Wintermark history

For hundreds of years the peoples of the extreme north, the Suaq and Kallavesi, were isolated from the rest of humanity by a troll kingdom that held sway over the mountain passes of Hahnmark. The trolls warred with the humans and forced them further and further into the cold, bringing them to the desperate brink of extinction.

The Steinr say that they fell from the heavens in a shower of falling stars. They claim that there is meteoric iron in their blood, and this is what gives them their indomitable spirit. Cousins to the Vard who conquered Varushka, the Steinr chose to head westwards while the Vard pushed east.

Caught between the orcs and the trolls their situation became increasingly desperate. Following visionary dreams sent by the shamen and mystics on the other side of Hahnmark, a small band of heroes made a heroic trek through the mountains to seek out the Suaq and the Kallavesi. Following a historic meeting. the warriors, the hunters and the mystics embarked on a bold campaign against the trolls. While the Steinr and Suaq embarked on a last-ditch campaign to harry their subhuman foes from north and south, the Kallavesi performed a great ritual that collapsed the glaciers of the mountains onto the troll armies, sealing them forever in a frozen underworld.

After the war a victory celebration was held in Hahnmark. A traditional Steinr grand moot – a Witan – was called, where three representatives of each people spoke on the nature of their achievement and of what must be done next to survive. It is said that amidst the speeches the leaders of the Suaq, the Kallavesi and the Steinr each shed a single tear for the trolls, and that these three tears froze in an instant, becoming clear gems. These gems were collected by the most cunning of the Suaq hunters and set in a crown forged from the torcs and rings of the fallen heroes of the three people. The wisest of the Kallavesi mystics crowned wily Ulmo of the Suaq King of the Three Tears, ruler of a new nation, Wintermark.

The crown was passed from monarch to monarch through the history of Wintermark. When the nation joined the Empire, the last King returned it to the Kallavesi mystics and told them to keep it as a symbol of unity not only for the three peoples, but for their union with the Empire. The Kallavesi gave the crown to the Winterfolk hero they considered to best exemplify the virtues of Wintermark, until 373AE when the last wearer Inga Suvvisdottir was slain during the fall of Skarsind.

Joining the Empire

While the first few decades of the new nation were tumultuous, by the time of the First Empress the Winterfolk had learnt the strength that comes from standing together. King Alof Bearnling was known to be a confidant and friend to the Empress. When the Empress spoke of her vision of one people united in defence of humanity, he was amongst her first and most enthusiastic supporters. The common opinion among Winterfolk is that they are the model for Empire and the bedrock on which it was built, and it is certainly true that both the Senate and the Imperial legal system are based on the traditions of the Winterfolk.

Emperors and empresses have come from Wintermark many times over the history of the Empire, especially when the enemies of humanity gather in great strength. They have traditionally been both wise warrior-generals and bold lawmakers and arbitrators, and the people of Wintermark have been instrumental time and again in helping the Empire to weather the storm and turn back the barbarian hordes.