Digoveda, or Ðigoveða (Forest Land) in native Trollish, was an anarchic society in the Forests of Hyyrt of Eastern Gerudia. One of the few large troll confederations, Digoveda's remote and harsh lands made it a local power and key nexus between Gerudia and the Serpentspine Mountain's Northern Pass. According to druidic tradition, the young but wise Gott "the Kind" united the fractured clans into a single tribe in 1440: Though they did not use the term at the time, they would eventually call themselves Digoveda.
History[]
The Giant Kingdoms[]
Trolls inhabited Gerudia since time immemorial, often as giantkin servants to the various True Giants, particularly the Ice and Stone Giants. The giant's empires lasted until the Frost Realm of Gerud slunk into the sea during the Last Dragonflight around 12,000 BA. After the giant's decline, humans and harpies expanded into the former-giant lands, displacing trolls to harsher locales. Disunited for centuries, the numerous troll tribes and bands fought each other as much as foreigners for land and resources, severely weakening their resistance to the "smallfolk". This state of affairs continued until King Jormir Once-Thawed awoke from glacial slumber with his Ice Giant subjects in 570 BA. Offering a return to their glorious past, trolls and ogres ranging from the Dalr to the Serpent's Vale accepted or were conquered back into their traditional caste. After Kranmas usurped his brother's throne in 407 BA, the trolls fractured between the loyal Fjord Trolls and the grieving Forest Trolls. The Fjord Trolls followed the new monarch on his grand conquest of Cannor while the Forest Trolls retreated to the Forests of Hyyrt, lost amid despair and uncertainty. In 377 BA, Kranmas' armies were routed, Castanor toppled the giant's domain, and the trolls (both Fjord and Forest) returned to being treated as monstrous foes along humanity's frontier.
Troll Migrations and New Identity[]
Fleeing to the Forests of Hyyrt, the Forest Trolls struggled in the bleak wilds after generations of giant servitude. Seeking both prosperity and identity, their silent prayers awakened their hearts to the land's magic. From guiding whispers to meager cantrips, affected trolls exhibited druid magic for the first time in troll history. Reciprocating their gifts through nurturing nature in kind, their powers flourished, leading to the first druids. The earliest Druid Circles trace back to around 300 BA, and this early period saw the first Forest Troll druidic symbols clawed in petrified wood and stone. By the Day of Ashen Skies, Druid Circles guarded sites throughout troll-inhabited Far Gerudia.
The Graytide and Further Troll Migrations[]
Already soured by human and harpy incursions, the various troll clans and tribes were unprepared for the hardy Gray Orc's Graytide in the 1420s. Their forests felled and warrens despoiled, thousands of Forest Trolls fled north and east in the face of such a powerful force. These refugees lacked familiarity with the land nor the resources to rebuild their lives, but as chaos and hunger threatened to destroy them, a young troll druid named Gott led the beleaguered trolls on a grand trek to safety in 1438. Within a year, Gott found to the salmon-rich Lakdalr, earning his fame as a trusted leader and honored soul. Gott's rule (though historians debate on the exact extent of Gott's influence in this early Digovedan society) solidified the fractured families and clans into a unified tribe, and his subsequent journeys granted insight for strengthening Digoveda for future crises.
Growth and Encroachment[]
After Gott's presumed death in 1494, the young tribe plunged into a succession deadlock. Relying on Gott's gifted wisdom, they established a council of thirteen leaders, and rather than securing positions by blood or might, Digoveda's adult clan-mates elected these leaders, laying the foundation for the troll's republican phase. With an open door policy and amicable-yet-stern diplomacy, Digoveda attracted immediate interest from neighboring nations. By the 16th century, it established the Isleid and allowed non-trolls to traverse its length on certain conditions. Yet despite this freedom of movement, competing powers in the region painted the forest-dwelling giantkin as monstrous ne'er-do-wells, sponsoring colonization efforts and skirmishes with local troll populations. As a result, the unaffiliated troll clans rushed beneath Digoveda's banner, uniting them in a way unseen since Jormir's reign. Despite this, the trolls struggled to keep pace with their neighbors.
Final Years and Legacy[]
By 1600, the Kingdom of Bjarnrik, Vaenghim Matriarchy, and Kingdom of Grombar rose as the premiere powers in Gerudia. With the Corinite Wars raging in lower Cannor, these nations met in Giant's Manse to divide the "hermetic and leaderless warrens" of Digoveda between them. This alliance of rivals effectively dismantled Digoveda, and by 1625, the Forest Trolls ceased to be an independent political force. Despite their annexation, the Forest Trolls maintained several troll organizations like communal dens and Druid Circles even in the face of cultural erasure.
Prominent Features[]
Lakdalr[]
Meaning "Salmon River", this mighty torrent along Eastern Gerudia feeds into the lake Ormrsaer. A centerpiece of Gott's legend, the Lakdalr's icy waters are synonymous with Digoveda itself.
Druid Circles[]
The boundless stretches of Gerudian wilderness is tended by druids with traditions tracing back to Kranmas' fall. Each Circle specializes in different aspects of nature magic such as frost, aurora, decay, the moon, and many more. Though they all nominally speak for Halann, these Circles are known for truly feral inter-Circle conflicts when pushed.
Isleid[]
An informal road of inns, markers, and forts, the Isleid, or Ìsleid in Trollish, ran through Digoveda's lands as naturally as an elk path. For those who earned the Forest Trolls' respect, it was a harsh but safe journey connecting Gerudia to the Northern Pass. Fur, mithril, gold, and other valuable materials flowed through without issue. This road also served as an important diplomatic channel for various nations, with Chronicler and eventually Ravelian chapters sponsoring safe houses along the trail.