Trestillian

Trestillian is a name encompassing the human folk inhabiting the Cape of Trestle. Trestillians organise themselves into clans beholden to their Jarls. These clans are made up of many families associated into Houses with strong loyalty to family and their clan’s name.   Trestillians once kept closely to the clans they were born in but as their size and influence grew across Trestle, the northmen were forced to develop new methods of organisation. Strongholds emerged overlooking strategic areas of influence. In these lands, many clans work together in relative harmony with a single clan line of Jarls to rule over them.    

The First Hjaldrmoot

    Due to the rising attacks from Felver tribes across the lands on Trestillians. The oppressed clans organised together to form the Hjaldrmoot – a war council of the most powerful clans with the task of eking out an existence in the harsh environment. Under the Hjaldrmoot, the clans could organise and supply one another with resources and protection. This method of organisation eventually pushed the more battle-hardened, but less organised Felver tribes out of the northernmost regions of Trestle.   The victory of the Hjaldrmoot culminated in the Battle of the Red Wood. Where 25 000 Trestillian warriors and 5 000 Dwarvern allies fought against twice their number of Felver tribes at the northern base of the mountainous region called the Spine of the World. The Felvers used ancient blood magic to summon a Vampire which was later struck down in a duel that stained the swathes of ancient hardwood trees permanently red. Trestillian legend of the clan Direwolf - Brynar Herfreyr finally felled the being, causing the Felvers to rout into the mountains.  

The Magic Wars

    The Hjaldrmoot, was maintained for decades after peace fell over the region. Without a shared enemy, Trestillians turned to infighting over the bountiful land they now controlled. This infighting caused difficulties in rallying for the next threat to face the clans. A once relatively peaceful and neutral faction, the faction of Elves later to become known as the Seekers begun kidnapping Trestillian Chosen and experimenting on them to discover the secrets of arcane magic. This prompted The Magic Wars between the Southern clans and Seekers that stretched for 100 years. Many times was a Hjaldrmoot called, but failed to unite enough clans to fight the overwhelming magic of the elves.   It was from diplomacy with the other race that Trestillians could overcome the threat of the Seekers. A faction of Elves disagreed with the treatment of the Trestillians by their Seeker led Arcanocracy. They organised from within to steal the seat of the High Archmagis and put in place a new way of thinking – that other races should benefit from the Elves ancient store of knowledge and magic. A deciding battle was fought outside the Gates of Quo’rihn with a staggering 40 000 Trestillian clansmen, 7 500 Dwarves and 25 000 Enclave elves against the walls of Quo’rihn and 50 000 Seeker Magicians and 60 000 Slaves.   It was widely known that it was the duel for the seat of the Archmage that won the day. Between Darkul Aulendil - High Archmage and Vampire – against three Chosen; Lukard Aulendil brother of Darkul, Hroki Hammerwind the Avalanche, and Sifir Carstensen the Dragon Mage. Lukard earned the killing blow. However, he did not observe the rules of single combat and so was illegitimate ruler to the Elvish people. The damage to the Seeker leadership was done. The Seekers fractured and fled to the Isles of Varden where they had more support. Other unaligned Elves fled or hid from the battle. The Enclave took control of Quo’rihn and instated a new form of government led by a council of Archmages chosen for their knowledge and experience in leadership instead of magical strength.   The Trestillians were once again at peace with their neighbours. With peace came bountiful trade with their Elvish neighbours situated on the coast. Southern clans prospered the most out of this deal. They were allowed to rebuild their holds and were better able to fight off Felver tribes from the South.  

The Syciosian Wars and The Trestillian Alliance

    It would be in the year 111 690 that the Trestillians would face their biggest war yet. Now called the Syciosian Wars, the Proxian Army would bank on the Western shores of Trestle and begin its conquest of the land. Their overwhelming numbers, organisation and tactical superiority allowed the invaders to cut routes through the land quicker than the Trestillians could organise. The Western Trestillian clans fought for the coast in The Battle of the Aldmerion Fields but were unsuccessful in fending off the Proxian invaders numbering over half a million, as opposed to the meek 50 000 Trestillians. Upon hearing the sheer size of this new threat, the Trestillians called together the largest Hjaldrmoot ever. Near every clan was to be part of this council where a leader King was elected to oversee matters. This king, Asgard Herfreyr, descendant of Brynar, would go to meet with their Enclave, Dwarf, Mereese and even Felver allies to organise a defence of Trestle.   As the Proxian Empire ripped across Trestle in a wave of red cloaks, they were soon faced with blue colours of the now called Northern Kingdoms – Jarls who fielded an organised army of trained warriors that could stand toe to toe with the Proxian Legions. Major battles were fought across Trestle but the most notable was the Holdout of Beacon Point. Where five Legions of Proxia: Dawn’s Ire 10th, Iron Wolves 9th, Black Templars 7th , Holy Hands 3rd , Sons of the Kraken 4th fought against the Trestillian Alliance of 200 000 strong. The Proxians numbered 750 000 combined forces and two Legion Legates; powerful Proxian Chosen decorated with many magical blessings and enchantments. Despite this, the Trestillian Alliance managed to hold the army and cut off Proxian supply lines with the help of 100 000 Felver tribesmen. The use of guerilla tactics was a key factor in deciding the siege, forcing the Proxians to dig in and wait for aid while Trestillian fighters enjoyed fresh supplies from Mereese ships running across a nearby river.   The deeper the Proxians ventured into Trestle, the more casualties they took. The logistics of supplying their many legions so far into enemy territory became increasingly difficult. The Legates also severely underestimated the ferocity at which the clans resisted assimilation into the Proxian way of life. This made gathering supplies from local clans a logistical - and soon - diplomatic nightmare as the Legions relented to negotiations over supplies and cooperation instead of brute force.   Finally in the year 111 728 Proxia relented with terms in the Treaty of Icerose. Proxia could keep the land they conquered but would need to return Icerose to the Northern Cities. They would also pay a generous sum of gold and iron ore mined from Proxian mines in Aethyos as well as set up trade relations with the cities. The goal of this by the Trestillians was to slowly broker a peace with the far stronger empire over many generation.   A truce worked well for both sides, as Proxia could spend time to heal their Legions and cement their rule in their newly captured territories. However not even two years after the treaty was enacted, a swathe of riots and rebellions arose across the Proxian controlled regions of Trestle. Trestillians usurped local magistrates and councillors and were able to retake control of a portion of their cultural heritage. Proxia, still reeling from the Syciosian Wars, came to the Trestillian folk with more favourable terms. Proxian controlled Trestle will become known as Proxia Trestillia. The Trestillian clans that still survived would be able to keep their name and reserve their right to being moved by the Empire. A sperate Emperor and senate would also be elected with more experience in Trestillian matters. However, new Proxia Trestillia would have to pay tithe to Proxia in both soldiers and resources.   While Proxia has done what it can to erase the history of the clans under its influence, it cannot seem to quash the spirit of the Trestillian people entirely. It is clear to the Trestillian Alliance that there can be no harmony while the Oberonic Emperor sits on his throne, stoking the fires of his Great Crusade until it once again hums to life, ready to conquer the rest of Trestle.  

Notable Clans and Families

 

Clan Direwolf

Coat of Arms: Black direwolf on a blue background
Seat of Power: Icerose
Head: Torren Herfreyr
God: Fenrir - Wolf God
Clan Direwolf are descendants of an ancient kingly line, purportely tracing their ancestry back to the first Felver kings of Orok and Taloc. Notable descendants are described as 'having the wolf's blood.' They hold great family ties. Despite their military accomplisments, they are builders and strategists more than they are fighters. They are known to be great oathkeepers which tends to aid them in diplomatic missions.    

Clan Merman

Coat of Arms: Mermaid with a sky blue tail on a sea green background
Seat of Power: Rodrick's Eye (Lower Northeast Trestle)
Head: Eric Mander
God: Njoridon - God of the Ocean
This clan tends to gain a bad name for itself through its scheming plots of shrewd negotiations which are always one sided in the end. They have a reputation for being fat, foolish nobles who always carry a grudge. However their nature makes them extremely loyal to other clans when their goals align. They have proven an instrumental ally in the Syciosian Wars by being the best negotiatiors with the Mereese folk.  

Storm Lords

Coat of Arms: Two crossed yellow lightning bolts on a black backdrop
Seat of Power: World's End
Head: Frigg Bracken, Aela Bracken, Lana Bracken
God: Yrodin - Storm God
This clan purports to have fought the Old Gods and their Krakens and World Serpent for the tip of Trestle. Storm giants fell from the mountains on their ancestral home and Sea Giants rose up from the waves to tear down the stonework yet none prevailed against the Daughters of the Storm. Three sisters now rule the Storm Lords and vie with the clan Direwolf over leadership of the Northern Cities. This clan is proud as it is powerful, able to rule the North with an iron fist and demand loyalty over a vast range of vassals.  

Dreadlords

Coat of Arms: Black bat wings on a purple background
Seat of Power: Xares
Head: Roose Axebiter
God: Loktheus - Trickster God
Secretive and mysterious, this clan prefers to keep to itself. It has a poor reputation amongst the Trestillian Alliance for its indecisiveness in the Syciosian Wars. However the soldiers it has contributed have been above regular rank and file ulfsarks. They are often viscious and cruel, using underhanded tactics and reveling in the thrill of killing. Their loyalty is questionable but their power in stealth is unmatched by any other of the Trestillian clans. The Dreadlords are a powerful ally and a terrifying enemy.  

Clan Apiar

Coat of Arms: Yellow and black beehive on a green background
Seat of Power: (formerly) Aldmerion Fields
Head: (formerly) Sigrund Beesbury
God: Helfrig - God of Life and Death
Clan Apiar were once a minor clan inhabiting the western coastline of Trestle until the Proxian empire assimilated them. Clan Apiar were most known for their great skill at beekeeping, allowing them to produce and trade the finest honey in Sycios. Their greatest achievement was their cultivated lines of Ambrosian Bees - famous for the shimmering gold honey they produce. Clan Apiar's beekeeping techniques and hives are now all that remains of their legacy as all clan lines have been lost to the Proxian assimilation.  

Clan Summer

Coat of Arms: Gold sun on a red background
Seat of Power: Summerest
Head: Lysa Bougheart
God: Helfrig - God of Life and Death
Clan Summer were renowned for their cultivation of the Summer Isles's flora. They are the most successful of the western clans and now widely regarded as a traitor to the Trestillian alliance. At the beginning of the Syciosian Wars, the Legate of Dawn's Ire 10th Chairos Tytus the Dawnblade and the Freya Bougheart fell in love. It was this romance that allowed the clan to remain untouched by the Proxian advance. In return, clan Summer give safe passage to the 10th Legion in the Summer Isles. They nowserve the 10th Legion at Summerest as handmaidens and gardeners at the hands of the noble Proxian houses.  

Clan Morning

Coat of Arms: A white sun rising over a black land with a purple background.
Seat of Power: (formerly) Aldmerion Fields
Head: Eric Rickardson
God: Aurald - God of Honour and Battle
Clan Morning were renowned for their supreme swordsmanship and their family lines often sported brilliant violet eyes. Their clan was effectively wiped out during the Battle of the Admerion Fields. They fielded an elite regiment known as the Swords of the Morning, each one of whom was a legendary Hersir. Clan Morning's last surviving heir - Eric Rickardson - leads a band of rebels who disrupt Protectorate supply lines and raid Proxian military camps around the Summer Isles.