- 2
- 0
118
First Age History
When the world first came into being, the Dvergr arrived and established numerous cities and outposts across the known world. When the first vikings arrived, they established a small settlement near what is now known as Bywater Bay. From here they spread out across the world and eventually formed Five Holds. Each with their own unique feel and culture, the Holds became the leading governing body for the Realm itself. From this formation the Realm of Rhovanion had its roots of the First Kingdom of the Realm planted. The Realm was spread that every corner of the world, heroes would come and go, and roots would be established so deep that the ruins of their once grand culture remain to this day.First Kingdom of the Realm
After the formation of the first 5 Holds, the First Kingdom was formed under the leadership from the stone fortress atop the Hill of Thoron named after the hill itself, Thorongil. It was here that the first capital was built and the Jarl set out to unite the Holds into one. High Jarl Magnússon was the first High Jarl of Thorongil and initiated the formation of the First Kingdom. Magnússon had several jarls branch out from Thorongil and build their own city, culture, and safe havens so that the lands surrounding their homes would be safe for anyone who thrives here. Older in age than his fellow Jarls that formed the other Holds, Magnússon led briefly for several years before his wife Uthgerd took up the mantle and finished the goal.High Jarl Uthgerd, the second to rule the First Kingdom, succeeded in unifying the central 5 Holds of the Realm. Forming the Jarl Council with fellow Jarls, she governed during the earlier days, setting up roads, and offering guidance to those below her. High Jarl Uthgerd called upon several influential Vikings during this brief expansion, Uthgerd also established contact with the Dvergr and signed the Vináttu Pact forming the friendship that would last centuries. Several Dvergr lighthouses and guard towers were constructed across the world guiding the Vikings to new lands to help bring stability to the Realm.
It was during these early days that the Heroes of Old made their mark. Idunn the Navigator sailed and mapped the entire world allowing for others to branch out to others lands. Thorr the Builder wandered the lands and aided in building the foundations to numerous cities/villages and great halls. Mjoll the Warrior helped teach any viking how to fight in combat and her exploits have been the backbone for many tales. Sventi the Wise is considered the wisest of all, and his knowledge helped shape the paths of many after him. Whilst Nimriel the Adventure took all the skills and knowledge that came before and used them to explore the unknown regions. Each left their own mark on the world and even a few have had decedents led the Realm going forth.
For the next several centuries the Realm grew to the surrounding islands and pushed even further and further from the core area.
Over this time, several key High Jarls left influential decisions that shaped the current world. High Jarl Laughlin of Vesturhold sanctioned several outward expansions that would lead to several smaller kingdoms forming a handful of other smaller kingdoms. Ruling from the seat at Iverstead, High Jarl Laughlin would watch his 3 children branch out to form the 3 Kingdoms of the North during the early days of the Expansion period. Later during this period, High Jarl Jenassa of Nordurhold led during the Crisis of Faith when Surdurhold began to follow the way Eikthyr, the Hold was cut off from the rest of the world with Bragi Keep being the fortress gateway to the rest of the Realm. Seeking not to feud with those that dwelt here, the First Kingdom sought only to contain them, blocking any travel north. High Jarl Jenassa set forth an order to construct numerous watchtowers across the Realm with the advice of Yngol the Defender, as Jenassa was considered a seer due to vision of an impending threat from the Outer Regions. She even tasked her youngest son Eorl to branch out to the north to strengthen those lands.
Decades later, the First Kingdom was struck again with an internal conflict after the rise of a new High Jarl. High Jarl Aldrich of Haugrburg was one of the most controversial High Jarls that did more damage than good. Aldrich broke the ruling law of Surdurhold’s isolation and decided to construct the mighty hilled fortress on the eastern side of the mouth of the river dividing Surdurhold and Ostlighold. Calling it Haugrburg, Aldrich sought to bring Surdurhold back into the fold regardless of the voices of other jarls. This choice divided the Inner Holds which led to a civil dispute between several of the Jarls. Aldrich used the chaos to grab more power from those that hesitated and slowly took control of most of Ostlighold, the western parts of Midthold, and Vesturhold. A counter group from the other Holds led a daring attack against Aldrich near the shores of Njordr Hill/Thorongil and was eventually cornered on the outskirts of Haugrburg. Aldrich fled once again south into Surdurhold with a small group never to be seen or heard from again. Haugrburg was razed to the ground and any bridges that connected the Holds were destroyed. A large group of survivors from Njordr Hill area, fed up with the conflict with the Inner Holds, left the lands and escaped to Maarva Isles to set up a new Hold where dictators and agitators to violence will not be tolerated, laying the foundations to Andorhold.
The First Kingdom regained stability for a time and rebuilt the damage done from the Haugrburg Incident. The peace of this era was known to last several decades and little is known of this era besides that lack of anything of note. This ideal peace was broken when word reached the Jarls of the Inner Holds about the Rasmussen Kingdom to the south. Rumors at the outer outposts at Autumnwatch Tower, as well as the grand city of Baile’Mor. Near the late end of the First Age, the /Collapse/Downfall began. The Rasmussen Kingdoms internal civil conflict led to an unknown outcome, when their tampering with the Ashland Relic awoke Fader’s rage resulting in the Forsaken to unleash his legions and call upon his Forsaken brethren to attack the Realm. When the Forsaken arrived and started to encroach on the surrounding lands. They came in contact with the northern regions first. They solely made their way towards the Dvergr as their power was most feared.
.On the dawn of a calm autumn day, the Forsaken struck from all regions. Word only reached the First Kingdom when droves of refugees flooded the ports and land bridges seeking safe haven from the growing attacks. Coined the Collapse, the Vikings of this time fought hard to hold back the legions sent forth by Bonemass and Yagluth. Eventually even the Inner Holds were attacked, which resulted in countless settlements and villages being lost to the chaos. Bonemass and Moder took personal care to either destroy any structure they came across, and Bonemass ensured that all those dead or alive would be corrupted by his influence. The Realm fell city by city, and the smoking ruins could be seen on the horizon. Some of the most defensible locations such as Iverstead, Mjollhall, Njordr Hill and Aegir Point were raided and razed to a ruin. Thorongil stood alone for a time but it too fell to the Forsaken invasion.
High Jarl Morwen of Jarnvidr last stand was considered the last line of defense. Morwen ruled Nordurhold during the early days of the Collapse. She helped lead a mighty defense in the Atmour Forest along the northern sides when the Elder arrived deep in the forest. They held the line for years as the forest shadows grew but were eventually betrayed by those infected by Bonemass’s influence. Allowing hordes of draugr to storm into Jarnvidr, Morwen led a last stand in the Cathedral of Baldur before falling to the Forsaken.
Scattered remnants attempted to flee elsewhere and established small holdouts or refugees, but those too fell. Jarnvidr held on for the longest time but it was one of the last to fall. Many that once was has now been lost to the record and only the remnants of their grand structures, cities and cultural remains. Pockets of survivors managed to find shelter in areas such as Bragi Keep, and Asynjur Keep due to the defensible positions but those there also witnessed the destruction of the surrounding area and could not do anything to aid those in need.
Some Dvergr hold outs can be found scattered across the world, but they pay little mind to those that come across them, and isolate themselves in their black marble towers turning away numerous refugees. Word of anything slowly faded as little was known of any survivors making contact with others. Thus the aftermath of the Downfall began as the dusk of the Forsaken’s destruction blanketed the lands. The dreaded Mists of the Queen slowly and closer to the heart of the Realm. Any land that came in the contact of the Mist was slowly corrupted into the hellscape it is today. Next came the Fulings and their hordes. They easily ran wild amongst the plains and caused mayhem to any stragglers that fled The Mists. Those that survived were driven closer to the Inner Holds, carrying stories for the atrocities carried out by the invading Forsaken. The First Age ended when the First Kingdom collapsed.
Noted Heroes:
-Idunn The Navigator was a renowned Navigator of the treacherous seas. She helped establish countless harbors and safe havens for those that sailed out in search of treasure and Glory. She established the city of Aegir Point and eventually retired to a peaceful life at Idunnhall.-Thorr The Builder hailed from the small village in Midthold. He helped build dozens of structures and outposts from the foundations of Thorongil, Bragi Keep and even as far as Iverstead’s Grand Hall. His influence is well known in the Realm, and his retirement hall has been an iconic staple. The hall itself was the home, and sanctuary to Thorr who utilized the hillside for the setting sun to bless his dwindling days.
-Mjoll The Warrior hailed Ostlighold. She helped carve out of the kingdom in these lands and even conquered the endless hordes of fulings in the scattered Plains east of the shores of Ostlighold. Mjoll led countless expeditions east into Stränderna in hopes of combatting the Fuling threat. During her time she collaborated with Thorr in building Bragi Keep and helped guide Sventi the Wise south. During her last years she set up shop in Ostlighold and helped build both the Anduin farm and her own personal home of Mjollhall. The hall was built with a watchtower on its edge, to watch over the meadows below from the threats from the Woods of Ruin. In time, the hall fell into disrepair and now remains atop the hill. It was considered as the seat of the Jarl for some time prior to Mjoll’s passing.
-Sventi the Wise, founder of Vanlandi. Sventi was considered a scholar and studied not only the history and knowledge of their own people but also the ways of the Forsaken. Eventually he set up a home at Gerdr Hill at the Alter of Eikthyr to study it further but was soon seen as an outsider. He led his followers south towards another Alter and began to build the village known as Vanlandi. Here they could worship the Eikthyr without interference from others in the Realm. Sventi would often travel to Maedhroshold to study the ways of Bonemass at the Swamp of Woe. Sventi would eventually pass on from the Realm and with him the knowledge he held.
-Nimriel the Adventurer. Nimriel was a renowned adventure that hailed from Iverstead. Nimriel would often seek out dangers of the world for the thrilled and at times tested the patience of others in the Realm. Nimriel sailed past the region of Storfjell to the south, eventually reaching the mists of the Mistlands. She also made a stop at a small isle for respite and named it Bodvar Point. Her old age eventually led her to build a home with the Grey Wood in Surdurhold. It housed all his treasures and relics of those times, but has since been raided by the locals from Vanlandi.
-Eorl the Conqueror. Eorl helped conquer the northern lands in Norausta and beyond. Eorl was the youngest of three of the Jarl of Jarnvidr and sought his own glory elsewhere. He trained for years in the Northern Kingdoms to combat the threats to the Realm and traveled far to get his fill. By the time he was able to wield a sword, he returned to Nordurhold and set up a home for retirement on the foot of Amon Hill. His prior conquests allowed for many lands in the Northern Reaches to be settled due to lack of threats.
-Lyonel the Hunter. Lyonel originally hailed from the village of Anduin but journeyed out to find fresh lands to hunt. A descendant of Mjoll, Lyonel sought to bring fame and glory to his name. He traveled to Nordurhold and established Uilr’s Steadfest and several small encampments. He eventually crossed the Bywater Bay following tales of rich forests in a land simply known as “Haaland”. There he found what he was looking for and established a haven for others. He led an exodus of like minded vikings and made a home in this land. Renaming it Maedhroshold, Lyonel would construct the village of Grunauer Grove. Lyonel had two sons, Yngol and Turin who both branched out in the isle and built settlements of their own. Autumnwatch and Dun Ruunvald were built shortly after.
-Yngol the Defender, son of Lyonel of Maedhroshold. Yngol would go on to travel south after founding Autumnwatch and built a grand city of Baile’Mor and other scattered outposts. Yngol studied the works of Thorr The Builder and assisted in building dozens of watchtowers across the Realm. Yngol would see the threat that Fader possesses and organize a force to combat his eventual return. Yngol disappeared sometime in the late 1st Age.
Other Kingdoms and Vassals
There were several kingdoms that once thrived in the Outer Reaches. Three children of the Jarl of Vesterhold branched out and established three Kingdoms of the North within the Northern Reaches. Scattered amongst the countless isles, they constructed massive cities and villages. Others ventured in all directions carving out new lands for their own glory.
Kingdom of Ardvasar
-Daughter Yrsa sailed north towards the Northern Reaches and settled the lands known as Ardvasar. She landed on the coast line of the River Erst, and set up a fortified point on an isolated patch of hill called “Cair Andros”. From there she led her people to build the mighty city of Sligachan across the bay. The city itself became the largest city in the North Reaches. Ardvasar was invaded by the hordes sent by the Queen and much of their lands have been corrupted.
Kingdom of Mystgaard
-The Third Kingdom of the Northern Reaches. Founded by the brother of Yrsa, Valarr formed the Mystgaard Kingdom. Building at the southern point of the bay, Sgurr Alasdair was constructed. It was the last holdout of the north before it fell. 2 groups of survivors fled, one landed in Bly Refuge, whilst the others fled south towards Rhovanion, destroying the bridge in the location now known as Hrafn Crossing.
Kingdom of Sorvagur
-Founded by the Oisin, son of High Jarl of Vesturhold, as a northern settlement. They reached the lands and set up a partnership with the local Dvergr population and used the new kingdom as a place to gather resources and transport them back to Realm. It once was a proud land full of scattered cities and Dvergr co-culture but tragedy struck. The Queen and the dreaded mists engulfed the land corrupting it into what is seen today. All those that once lived there either fell to the hordes or fled south towards Rhovanion.
Kingdom of Olfar
-Cousin of Sventi the Wise, Olfar sailed east towards Stränderna to establish several settlements. There he built the Fortress of Tur Arngrim, the city of Fogarrach and reinforced Bodvar Point. There were several interactions with the Dvergr in the area, but the presence of the fulings were a thorn in their side since they landed. Similar to the northern kingdoms, the Kingdom of Olfar was abandoned due to the fuling attacks.
Rasmussen Kingdom
-The Southernmost vassal kingdom of the Realm. Located across several small island clusters in Eteläinen, Rasmussen was built upon the support of Dvergr teachings. Eventually they built several small cities to help study this lost art and were driven to explore the Ashlands further. It was here where relics and knowledge were discovered and returned to the shores of their young kingdom. Unknown to the vikings that returned them, some of the relics held the corrupted power of the Forsaken Fader within them, dividing the reasoning of those that possessed it. The Jarl of the Kingdom at the time had 4 children, who all desired to have these relics for their own enrichment. Each fought to hold these relics for themselves, causing the Rasmussen Kingdom to have an internal civil conflict splitting the kingdom into 4 parts. The Jarl was slain during the initial start, with each child fleeing to their respective homes/isles, naming the land after their own given names: Hithaeglir, Hjalmar, Hothbrodd and Halvdor.
It was here that each claimed to be the heir of the Kingdom and even attempted to use the relics for themselves against the protests of their Dvergr allies. It is unknown which child sparked the first ember, but their tampering with the Ashland Relic awoke Fader’s rage resulting in the Forsaken to unleash his legions and call upon his Forsaken brethren to attack the Realm. The Kingdom was the first to fall, and all their secrets and knowledge is forever lost. Ruins like Helvitis and Ansuz are the only remnants of this kingdom today.
Kingdom of Gündoğan.
-Originally hailed from the third line of Jarls from Iverstead, this kingdom was established in the later part of the First Age. They built massive cities such as Sorlathan, the hill city of Icarius. the wooded village of Fararron, and road connections to the lands ruled by the Dvergr. The Kingdom ruled for some time but was struck early on during the Forsaken assault.
1 Update Logs
Update #1 : by ElderWissman 05/15/2026 6:55:20 pmMay 15 @ 10:55 pm UTC
Updated Lore Thread.
More like this
Realm of Rhovanion Lore: The HoldsStory Article
ElderWissman
4/7/26 11:43
• posted 2/16/25 4:31
1.2k 2x 131
Realm of Rhovanion Lore: Niðavellir ReclamationStory ArticleElderWissman
•7/11/26 10:22
66 1x 151
3512
6
User13280G
Lou De Witte
SharpWolfclaw
Fluffy-n-Dana
Hermod
Have something to say?