The history of the Valkari is one etched in blood and perseverance, a tale of warriors, conquerors, and survivors who shaped the northernmost reaches of the land. Their story is one of unity, war, and eventual diaspora, culminating in the conflict that became known as the Valkar War, a brutal clash that set the stage for tensions still felt across the continent today.
The Rise of the Valkari
For centuries, the Valkari ruled over the Northern Highlands, a vast and treacherous landscape of jagged peaks, frozen lakes, and impenetrable forests. Unlike the organized city-states of the south, the Valkari were not bound by kings or noble bloodlines. Instead, they followed a system of clan-based leadership, where strength, honor, and the will of the people dictated who held power.
At the heart of their culture was the Code of Valkar, an unwritten set of principles that governed every aspect of their society. It emphasized strength in battle, loyalty to kin, and an unwavering sense of honor. The Valkari did not seek conquest for the sake of expansion—they fought to defend their own, to secure their harsh homeland, and to uphold their traditions in a world that saw them as little more than savages.
Among their greatest leaders was Haric the Unyielding (born 553 AE), a warlord who unified the fractured clans under a single banner. Through his leadership, the Valkari fended off southern incursions, rival warbands, and even creatures that roamed the Frosted Wastes beyond the Highlands. His reign marked an era of unmatched stability, but also one of growing conflict with the more structured kingdoms to the south.
By the time of his death in 702 AE, the Valkari had become a force impossible to ignore. Their warriors, clad in distinctive black-and-red armor, were feared across the continent. They were no longer just defenders of their land—they had become an empire in their own right.
Tensions with Oryn-Vel
Despite their reputation, the Valkari had little interest in expanding beyond their natural borders. However, in 730 AE, a growing kingdom to the south, Oryn-Vel, began expanding aggressively toward Valkari land. Unlike the Valkari, Oryn-Vel was built on a structured military and economic system, favoring expansion through trade, infrastructure, and calculated warfare.
At first, Oryn-Vel's leaders—particularly **King Eldric IV—**sought diplomacy with the Valkari. He proposed treaties, trade routes, and even marriage alliances between Valkari chieftains and Oryn-Velian nobility. However, the Valkari, wary of outsiders, rebuffed these offers. To them, peace built on dependence was just another form of conquest.
As border skirmishes became more frequent, tensions escalated into full-scale war in 733 AE. It would end up as one of the most devastating and costly conflicts to ever occur in the country.
The Valkar War (733–738 AE)
The Valkar War was not a battle of equal forces. Oryn-Vel had trained soldiers, siege weapons, and vast resources. The Valkari, despite their skill in battle, relied on guerilla tactics, terrain advantage, and their unbreakable spirit.
The early years of the war saw the Valkari repelling Oryn-Vel's initial offensives. Warriors like Ylva the Stormborn led night raids on enemy camps, crippling supply lines and striking fear into the hearts of Oryn-Vel's forces. For a time, it seemed as if the Valkari's sheer resilience would turn the tide.
But in 736 AE, Oryn-Vel's military leaders made a decisive move. General Eamon Faelan, known for his strategic brilliance, led a campaign deep into Valkari land. Rather than fighting the warriors head-on, he targeted their villages, burning food supplies and forcing civilians into surrender. This strategy, known as the Winter Starvation, broke the Valkari's ability to sustain their war effort.
By 738 AE, the war had come to a brutal conclusion. The Valkari were pushed back into their final stronghold at Ironhold Peak, their headquarters in the northern mountain ranges. Surrounded, outnumbered, and starving, the remaining warriors had no choice but to surrender.
With the Valkar War ending in 738 AE, the once-mighty Valkari were left in ruins. Their warriors were either dead, scattered, or assimilated, and their lands, once thought untouchable, were now under foreign rule. Yet the end of the war was not merely a military defeat; it was a complete dismantling of their way of life.
Oryn-Vel, having won the war, had no intention of allowing the Valkari to rise again. In the years following the war, a series of decrees, treaties, and economic reforms were put in place to ensure that Valkari culture, military strength, and influence would never threaten the south again.
The Valkari Disarmament Treaty (738 AE)
One of the first actions taken by King Eldric IV, who was partial to the people of Oryn-Vel, was the signing of the Valkari Disarmament Treaty, a comprehensive agreement that formally ended the war and dictated the fate of the remaining Valkari clans.
The treaty had several key conditions:
Dismantling of the Valkari Army: Any remaining Valkari warriors were to surrender their weapons and be forbidden from forming organized military forces of any kind. Those who resisted were executed.
The Abolition of Clan Rule: The traditional clan system that had governed the Valkari for centuries was dissolved. No chief or warlord would be allowed to hold political or military power.
Forced Relocation: Many surviving Valkari civilians were forcibly relocated to settlements deeper in Oryn-Vel's territory, where they would be monitored and integrated into southern society.
The Occupation of Valkari Land: The highland territories were divided among Oryn-Velian lords and merchants, who began exploiting the region for its resources, including timber, iron, and coal.
To ensure compliance, Oryn-Vel established garrisons in key Valkari territories, turning former strongholds like Ironhold Peak and Frostmere Keep into military outposts.
The Cultural Suppression Acts (740-745 AE)
Even after disarming the Valkari, Oryn-Vel feared that their culture and traditions could fuel a resurgence. The people of the south saw the Valkari not just as warriors, but as a dangerous ideology—one that needed to be erased.
Between 740 and 745 AE, a series of laws known as the Cultural Suppression Acts were enacted, aimed at breaking the Valkari identity.
Valkari Language Forbidden: Speaking, teaching, or writing in Valkari dialects was outlawed. Those caught using the old tongue were punished, sometimes severely.
Ban on Valkari Symbols and Dress: Traditional Valkari tattoos, battle markings, and garments were banned. Even carrying symbols of their ancestors was considered a criminal offense.
Destruction of Valkari Relics: Oryn-Velian officials began a campaign of historical erasure, burning Valkari texts, destroying statues, and defacing monuments
.Criminalization of Valkari Martial Arts: The fighting styles that had once made the Valkari so feared were forbidden. Any attempt to train in their signature techniques was considered an act of rebellion.
These laws were ruthlessly enforced, with violators often jailed or executed. Many of the older generations, unwilling to conform, fled or perished, leaving behind a younger generation with little knowledge of their own heritage.
The Economic Reallocation Edict (746 AE)
By 746 AE, Oryn-Vel had successfully conquered the main lands of the Valkar, but now came the challenge of integrating it into their growing influence. King Eldric IV let the leaders of the city own this land, and even issued the Economic Reallocation Edict, a policy designed to restructure Valkari lands into a profitable asset.
The Land Carve-Up: Former Valkari lands were divided among Oryn-Velian lords, merchants, and allies who had supported the war. New agricultural and mining projects were established, many using former Valkari as laborers.
The Establishment of Oryn-Velian Cities: To cement their rule, Oryn-Vel built new towns and outposts where Valkari villages once stood. Settlements like Velmire's Hold and Caelwyn's Gate became major trade hubs, further severing the land's connection to its original people.
Trade Routes Reoriented: The northern trade networks that once benefited the Valkari were redirected toward Oryn-Vel, ensuring that all commerce flowed southward.
Exploitation of Natural Resources: The highlands were rich in ore, lumber, and mana-reactive minerals. These resources were heavily extracted and exported to fuel Oryn-Vel's growing military and economic ambitions.
Former Valkari warriors, unable to fight, had little choice but to work as miners, laborers, or mercenaries for the very kingdom that destroyed them.
The Resistance and the Valkari Diaspora
Despite these oppressive measures, not all Valkari accepted their fate. Small pockets of resistance emerged in the years following the war, led by those who refused to let their people's legacy fade into history.
Some of these groups included:
The Sons of Valkar: A secret society dedicated to preserving Valkari traditions, smuggling texts, and training warriors in secrecy.
The Ironfang Rebellion (750 AE): A short-lived uprising led by Eirik Ironfang, a former Valkari chieftain. The rebellion was crushed, but it became a symbol of defiance.
The Mountain Exiles: Rather than submit, some Valkari fled into the mountains, forests, and other remote regions. These exiles continued to practice their traditions in secrecy, waiting for the day they could reclaim their homeland.
One such group was the sect led by Rhun Wolfsbane, which disappeared into the Jaffalex Mountains. Unlike the rebels who sought revenge, Rhun's followers sought isolation, secrecy, and survival. They would become a forgotten people, hidden from history—until the time was right.