Category:The Barren Icylands



The entire area in the northeast section of the Old Continent is called The Barren Icy Lands. These are regions that, because of their geographic location, are known for their sub-zero temperatures and steady snowfalls. There are currently three independent principalities established, which are isolated from the Empire and ignore all their mandates.

The history of The Barren Icy Lands is linked to the caste of Holst and the ancestral Kingdom of Haufmarsormen. Since ancient times, it has been a people united by similar beliefs with their own Gods, traditions and society. Accustomed to a life full of difficulties and hardships, 1,500 years in the past they launched great invasions towards the south, sacking all the populations that stood in their way. Unfortunately, after the death of King Holst, their first great monarch, the territories were left without a strong leader to unify the clans. They tried to continue their advance towards warmer lands but, fighting separately, were defeated and forced to retreat to the mountains in the north. The aftermath was a war-like period in which the clans fought one another. It was not until the arrival of the Messiah when they, supported by their own deities, clashed with the armies of Abel trying to preserve their independence; but following the destruction of the God Fenrisulf, the clans were forced to join the Holy Kingdoms under the supervision of the Apostle Saul. Even so, most of them retained their old traditions, adapting the new beliefs to their own ancestral rites. The War of God caused the downfall of the Holy Kingdoms, and the area returned to be independent clans until, one after the other, Aeolus incorporated them into the Sacred Holy Empire.

The principalities that compose The Barren Icy Lands have never maintained a strong union with the Empire, and they have taken advantage of Abel’s current weakness to become openly independent. None of the three keeps relations to the others; on the contrary, they feel a considerable mutual antagonism. They do not usually use imperial laws, preferring their own traditions, which vary from place to place.

Most of the people in The Barren Icy Lands live in ignorance to the Empire and their latest developments. Many of them know nothing of the current status of Abel, because they have never been integrated into it.

The Legend of King Holst
Although the history of the Barren is full of heroes, none of them comes close to the myth of Holst. His legend dates back over 1,500 years, at a time of war and chaos in which the clans fought amongst themselves. According to the fable, after a bloody battle, Holst’s mother died hanging from a tree while he was still in her belly, so the boy should have never been born.

Because of his cries, the little one attracted the attention of a young elven woman named Melkiren, who cradled him in her arms and took care of him like a son. The young elf, who lived alone in the forests, taught the small child to hunt and fight, sheltering him from the world of the men. While she raised him, Melkiren realized that he was not a normal boy, since he possessed qualities that she’d never seen in a mortal before, even among her own people. Holst could communicate with the spirits, understood the language of the animals and saw things that not even she understood. Therefore, when he turned fourteen, Melkiren explained to the young boy that it was not his place to stay with her, and that he should have to begin a long journey to find his true destiny. As memento, she gave him a sword, which Holst named Mournehäven, which means “Ice Biter”.

While wandering through the woods, Holst met a host of unusual characters; even the God Uruz, who he challenged to a hunting match in which he obtained a bow and nine arrows. Two years after he started his journey, Holst encountered King Olaferson, the lord of one of the great clans that tried to unify The Barren Icy Lands. Olaferson was traveling to kill the demon dragon Brahmius, the greatest and most terrible of all the children of The Devourer, because if he presented its head before the Conclave of Chiefs, he would be appointed King of Kings. The two soon became fast friends and Holst decided to accompany him on the hunt. But when they reached the lair of the creature, Olaferson became frightened after witnessing the enormous power of Brahmius unleashed and flew, leaving their fate in the hands of Holst. The combat between the young man and the dragon was terrible, but the future hero finally emerged victorious. But King Olaferson, who had witnessed the battle from outside, feared that Holst would speak of his cowardice and caused a landslide that completely sealed the cave of the dragon, trapping the boy inside.

That’s when one of the three fates, Verdal, descended to the world to collect the soul of Brahmius, and was surprised to see the young man trapped inside the cave. Apparently, Holst should have died in the belly of his mother, and his presence was an auspicious event, that not even the goddess of fate had anticipated. However, although she should have taken his life, Verdal fell in love with Holst at first sight, as he did with her. Following an oath to meet again, the fate released him and returned to heaven, ignorant of the fact that she could never fulfill the promise that she had made.

Holst immediately ran to the Conclave of the Chiefs, where Olaferson had already announced his victory over the dragon and was preparing to receive the greatest of honors. When the young man appeared at the celebration with the head of Brahmius, the King called Holst a liar and attacked him alongside his two sons, both talented soldiers. Holst defeated all three and gained the recognition of many of those present. Unable to claim the title “King of Kings,” he was considered a great hero for years where he wandered with many clans, claiming great victories and recognition. Over time, he was proclaimed Supreme King of the entire land, because his fame had already become legendary and any soldier of the Barren would have gladly given his life for him.

He then founded the great Kingdom of Haufmarsormen, which extended the power of the clans everywhere. He was forced to marry the beautiful daughter of King Slyganar because of a misunderstanding and, though he never forgot his mysterious first love, he lived out his days in great happiness beside his queen, who bore him three children.

The details surrounding the death of King Holst are contradicting. The story most widespread (although not necessarily the true) is that Bragii, his best friend, who had been cajoled by the goddess Helion when he discovered that the fate of the King was to die years ago, mortally wounded him during a hunting game. According to some versions, Verdal offered her own divinity in exchange for Holst’s life, but her sister Aishia did not want that fate for her, and tricked her, preventing her from saving her beloved.