The Gørviligr

During the time of Saint Themis and the War of Unification, the Summer Lands were originally ruled by the Elves.

In those chaotic times, the Summer Lands broke into a civil war between two distinct political factions, the Trú and the Gørviligr.

Every decade, the kingdom would hold an election to choose whether it would be the leader of the Trú or the Gørviligr that would rule the Summer Lands for the next ten years. The elections were always peaceful, fair and both sides thoroughly checked for any tampering or interference with the votes.

Five years before the civil war began, the Trú's leader, Parthas, was elected to lead the Summer Lands but, unlike the rulers of the land before him, he was power hungry.

He wanted to solidify his control over the city of Elvast and the Summer Lands no matter the cost and, to do so, he needed to reduce the power of all those around him, especially that of his main political rival, the Gørviligr head Dormund.

When war broke out between the other six kingdoms of the south-east, Parthas began making plans to slowly change the laws of the Summer Lands to reduce not only his own council’s powers, but also Dormund’s influence over the kingdom.

His actions did not go unnoticed.

Dormund and his allies started telling everyone what the High King was trying to do, greatly upsetting the Gørviligr. The Trú, however, were divided on the issue as Parthas was quite popular among them and, publicly, he didn’t appear to be someone who would do such a thing.

Parthas, in turn, denounced Dormund, saying that it was him who was lying, that he was the one trying to consolidate power.

Tensions continued to rise as both sides tried to tell their side of the story until the country was on the brink of civil conflict.

The critical moment came when Parthas ordered his own daughter brutally murdered and framed the Gørviligr for it.

The country broke out into civil war the next day and ravaged the kingdom for most of the War of Unification.

When Saint Themis and her Holy Legion arrived, the Trú made their case to Themis who wholeheartedly believed and aided them in the conflict.

Karak-Harth, who still served on her council, said that he was highly suspicious of the Trú and that all might not be as it seemed. Themis, however, didn’t listen to him and joined the war against the Gørviligr.

After two months, the war was over and it seemed as though all the Gørviligr, including Dormund, had been annihilated.

As the war progressed, Themis had grown doubtful about the Trú and their intentions, and even sent Karak-Harth to investigate them further but, by the time they uncovered the truth, the war was over.

The newly anointed High King Parthas submitted himself before Themis and praised her as their saviour, which disgusted the young Saint who then secretly rewrote the terms of their alliance. She took all power away from the High King and limited his influence to nothing more than to the mayor of Elvast, and made sure that her laws were far more important than his ever could be.

Per Karak-Harth’s council, Themis did not reveal the truth to the world about the Elven Civil War and the Summer Lands officially joined the Holy Empire.

While most believed that the Gørviligr died during the war, a small handful of them had escaped and retreated to the peaks of the mountains beside the Goddess’s Eye Lake, hidden away from the eyes of the Holy Empire.

Over the next few hundred years, they slowly became a prospering mountain people, but they never forgot their hatred and vengeance towards the Trú and Themis herself.

When David had arrived in their lands with the twins, he’d been very impressed at the Incan-like civilisation they’d developed in their new homes.

They lived off livestock and traded goods based on what the two barterers deemed of equal-value. They hunted powerful beasts that resided in the mountains and had built many great buildings and monuments of stone.

There were more than seventy small villages built across multiple peaks connected only by strong rope bridges.

The Gørviligr had warmly welcomed David and the twins into their land, respecting him as the Dark Lord and treating him like royalty.

When David proposed an alliance to the Chieftain, the Chieftain couldn’t accept quickly enough; he even offered David his daughters to tie their peoples together.

David had politely turned down his offer, saying that the feeling was more than enough, and then he offered them the chance to get their long-held vengeance on the Holy Empire.

“If it would bring about the justice we have sought all these years, then my people would follow you anywhere, sire.”

“That is not all I shall offer you, Chieftain. Once my empire has risen, Elvast shall be yours.”

The Gørviligr Chieftain wept when David made that vow.

The Chieftain pledged all of their hundred thousand people, including their twenty thousand soldiers and hunters, to David’s cause.

The two then spent the next few days drawing out the details to sign an official alliance between the two peoples. The negotiations were long, but they concluded happily for both groups.

“Master, my lord, please allow me to read the final terms to all those gathered before either leader signs,” Charybdis declared.

For the official signing of the alliance document, the Chieftain had opened up the largest stone hall in the villages for all to hear.

Thousands of locals had gathered to see the historic moment and were eagerly awaiting its signing.

While there were many small terms, clauses, conditions and agreements on the treaty, Charybdis would only be covering the three main ones in her statement.

“First, in exchange for military support and assistance in managing the Demon Empire, the Gørviligr will be officially recognised as citizens of the Demon Empire and be given the territory of Elvast to call their own. However, while they will not be an independent city state, they will be allowed to rule the city as they see fit within reason, so long as they keep within the express guidelines of the Demon Emperor’s wishes.

“Second, as citizens of the Demon Emperor, the Gørviligr henceforth pledge their military force in its entirety to march under the Satyr’s Skull as soldiers of the Demon Empire and that they will never rebel or break the laws of the Demon Empire as decreed by the Demon Emperor himself. However, should any of the decrees or laws treat the Gørviligr unfairly as citizens of the Demon Empire, then they reserve the right to withdraw from the alliance so long as they give fair warning and notice to his majesty the Demon Emperor

“Finally, the Gørviligr swear eternal loyalty to the Demon Emperor in exchange for the agreed above terms of the treaty.

“If both parties agree to these terms and the others of the treaty between our Master and your Chieftain, would both representatives please sign this document in the eyes of these witnesses?” Charybdis concluded with a sweet smile, placing the treaty on the table.

The Gørviligr chieftain was the first to pick up his quill to sign the document. With a hearty smile, he signed the document and gently pushed the treaty over towards David. David took up his quill and signed the treaty as well, slowly and carefully, making sure that he didn’t mess up his signature.

The last thing I need is to mess up and embarrass myself at the end of a long negotiation for this alliance.

Once he was done, David put his quill down on the table just as the Gørviligr Chieftain extended his hand to David.

“It has been a pleasure and an honour to speak with you and reach this beneficial agreement, your majesty.”

David firmly shook the man’s hand. “The pleasure has been mine, my lord.”

The room then broke out into applause and handshakes as the Gørviligr officially became part of the Demon Empire.