The Konungdómr of Bjarnrík is a country located in the Dalr Valley of Gerudia. It is known for being the first kingdom in Gerudia, and only loosely holds the clans of Revrhavn and Sidaett under its leadership. It is known for its wars against Obrtrol, which was a nation of Trolls further north. Bjarnrík is the most receptive of the Gerudians to scientific and cultural advancements from the rest of Cannor.
History[]
Pre-History BA ( Until 1 AA )[]
Gerud's Realm, the dominion of the Frost Giants, once covered the Dalr Valley until the end of the Age of Giants around 12,000 BA. Only Frost Giants and Frost Trolls dwelled in these glaciated lands, building the city that would become Murtrhol in the Dalrfjall Mountains. Their tyranny ended with dragonfire melting their halls and hearts, with their flooding creating the aptly-named Giant's Grave Sea.
Following the flooding of the Giant's Grave Sea, the population of Frost Giants steadily decreased throughout the centuries. However, the Trolls became ever more numerous in the realm, becoming the true protectors of the Gerud's Realm. Some claim that humans once dwelt in these lands as subjects of the Frost Giants, known as Olav's Children to Skaldskolan scholars. Such claims are only proposed due to some particularly ancient Ebonsteel artifacts being sized for use by humans. What is certain is that human occupation of Gerudia was present following the thawing and flooding of the Giant's Grave Sea. While the earliest human settlement of Gerudia can be traced back to Urviksten, they soon began to occupy the rest of Olavlund and the Dalr Valley. The Frost Giants themselves became reclusive, leaving their lands to be watched by their loyal Trolls - and taken by opportunistic humans.
For ages the Frost Trolls were thought to have been gone, until Jormir Once-Thawed brought back the dominion of the Frost Giants over Gerudia in 570 BA. Jormir united the land and was feared by the Castanor of old, but was known for a peaceful reign from his icy palaces in Far Gerudia. However, in 407 BA Jormir was slain by his brother Kranmas who waged war against Castanor in the Wars of the Giantsbane until his defeat in 357 BA. Kranmas even fielded Gerudian warriors against the southerners, be it from awe or fear. By 373 BA the Castanorian Legions had began to counter-attack into Gerudia, and exterminated many of the Frost Giants and their Trolls. Kranmas himself was the last Frost Giant, now known as Kranmas the Enchained, forced to rebuild the ruined fortifications of Bal Vroren.
Legion VI Giantsbane remained within Gerudia until 282 BA, slaying Trolls while being supplied by coerced Gerudian tribes. This began the age of the Ebonsteel Kings, marked by the large amount of Ebonsteel weapons and armor forged. Despite the animosity of their wars and occupation, the kindred between the human civilizations fostered trade between their lands. Until the Day of Ashen Skies, humans steadily began to claim Gerudia from the Frost Trolls. The settlements of the Dalr Valley followed the Rafn river northward, establishing towns as far as Silfrhof and Algrar. However, most of the Gerudians remained by the Giant's Grave Sea where they plied the seas for sustenance, trade, and increasingly raiding.
The Day of Ashen Skies saw less apocalyptic destruction in Gerudia as compared to the rest of the world, but is recorded by Gerudians as being the bloodiest attack by Trolls since the reign of the Frost Giants. Some modern scholars speculate that the tale of Urvik and Olav was inspired by this event, rather than the initial settlement of Olavlund. From then on, the humans of Gerudia saw no possible peace with the Trolls.
Pre-History AA ( 1 - 470 )[]
Much of Gerudian history has been lost by the winter of Elkaesal the White. Castanorian influence remained in Gerudia throughout this time, however with waning influence with the decline of Castanor. The catastrophic attacks by Trolls during the Day of Ashen Skies destroyed many settlements in the northern forests of the Dalr Valley, and left a lasting resentment in the hearts of the Gerudians. To this day, the first sign of the end of the world is marked as a seemingly endless wave of Trolls.
With Ebonsteel-forged weaponry becoming more common, the Gerudians drove the Trolls back over time. Burial mounds and sprawling cairns were constructed for the greatest of heroes, with the largest collection at Haugrmyrr. It is currently being debated as to why it contains such a density of burial grounds, with some stating that it was a site important to a pre-Skaldhyrric deity, or that a great battle with Trolls was fought here. In contemporary times, Haugrmyrr is a treacherous marsh at best, and the burial mounds of the Ebonsteel Kings are often haunted by the risen dead from centuries past.
Era of Frost and Era of Black Ice (470 - 491, 491 - 882)[]
Trolls invaded from the Dalrfjall mountains.
Foundation (882 - 907)[]
Bera, a Gerudian warrior-queen, is commonly considered to be the founder of Bjarnrík. An acclaimed reaver who won great renown during the Era of Black Ice, she led a raiding party across the world, "from Bulwar to the Dameshead", observing the advanced governments and organization. However, as her party made their way north, to the Dalr Valley, Castan XLIX Ebonfrost, the first Gerudian Emperor of Castanor, blocked their path and insisted that Bera's party give up half of their loot before being allowed to proceed. Instead of acquiescing, Bera defeated the Castanorian Imperial Navy and stole a significant quantity of wealth from Castan Ebonfrost before continuing on to the Dalr Valley. Upon her return, she unified the Gerudian tribes of Konungrhavn, Sidaett and Revrhavn against the trolls. Alongside the Dalric jarls and the Skalds, she slew the troll leader, Urgnak the Foul, and banished the trolls to the Dalrfjall Mountains. Following this victory, Bera - with the assistance of the Skalds - founded Bjarnrík, modelling it after the feudal nations of the south. A heavily fictionalized retelling of her life may be found in the Beralic Saga.
Waxe, Wane, and the War of the Sorcerer-King (907 - 1200)[]
The nascent kingdom of Bjarnrík fought the peoples of the Serpentshead over control over the Frozen Pass in the late 10th century. While Bjarnríki forces were besieged the Serpentgarder fortresses, their elite warriors, the Sea-Serpents, struck at their stronghold of Fuglborg and sacked it. This prompted the Bjarnríki armies to withdraw in order to defend their homeland. However, the Sea-Serpents retreated into the marshes, and the Serpentgarders claimed victory.
War of the Bears (1200 - 1236)[]
Reform (1236 - 1444)[]
At the beginning of the 15th century, Konungr [Name] abolished the practice of reaving, justifying it as an impediment to cooperation and trade with the south.
Colonial Expansion (1XXX - 1XXX)[]
The Geological Institute of the Dalr was instrumental in the colonization of the
Defeat and Subjugation (1XXX - 1XXX)[]
After a series of brutal wars along the Giant’s Grave Sea in the late 18th century, Bjarnrík was defeated and conquered by the Gawedi Empire. Economic domination followed political domination, with the rising magnate class spreading to Gerudia and attaining control over the Bjarnríki economy and fueling an industrial revolution in the country.
Part of the Northern League (1772-)[]
The magnates of Bjarnrík allied with their southern equivalents and took part in the Magnate Uprising (1772-1779). This was a time of great opportunity for the Gerudian magnates, as it allowed them to get rid of their rivals, which comprised of the old guard, clans and nobility of the Bjarnríki kingdom. Through seizing local power and putting down secessionist revolts during the uprising, the Gerudian magnates were able to bring the Dalr region into the Northern League proper.
Economy[]
In 1587, Konungr Ejnar I(?) Bjarnsson passed the Riches of the Dalr Valley Act to reinvigorate and establish new industries throughout the Dalr Valley. This involved funding the establishment of a national timber industry by exploiting the forests of the Dalr Valley. Attention was also paid to the regulation of the hunting of game in said forests. Additionally, a national mining industry was established to exploit the rich iron and copper reserves of the mountains.