Holmgard

Holmgard
Holmgard's Roofways
Population	120,000 (MS 5000)
Foundation	MS 3435
Barony	Royal Estates
Country	Sommerlund
Region	Northern Magnamund
Planet	Magnamund
Plane of Existence	Aon
Politics
Ruler	King Haigh V
Noble title	Monarch of Sommerlund

Holmgard is the capital city of Sommerlund, and one of the its four great cities (alongside Toran, Tyso and Anskaven). As the seat of power of Sommerlund, one of the most powerful nations in Magnamund and hated enemy of the Darklords, it is been a consequential city throughout history.

History

Holmgard began as a small military outpost during the rule of King Kian I in MS 3435, as one of the first settlements built by the Sommlending after the Great Voyage took them to what was to become Sommerlund. It was given the name "Holmgard", meaning "Strong of Heart and Mind" in Old Sommlending. As the settlement grew under King Braern I, Kian I's successor, it was named the capital of Sommerlund in MS 3450.

In Sommerlund's early history, they fought against the Darklords. In MS 3520, their leader, Archlord Vashna, unleashed the Helghast Wars, with some Helghast coming close to locating and destroying the Sommerswerd, the bane of the Darklords; the Helghast came close to their goal, but ultimately failed. However, the Helghasts' shape-shifting nature allowed them to wreck havoc across all of Sommerlund with only the political skill of Queen Maura I and the Helghast-identifying magic of the Brotherhood of the Crystal Star stemming the chaos. The Helghast were finally defeated in MS 3550 by Knights of the Realm, equipped with magical weapons by the Brotherhood, who hunted the Helghast down to their last number.

In MS 3785, Vashna initiated the War of the Black Muster, a fourteen year war that saw Holmgard and Toran suffer long sieges, broken by Baron Shaen Ruanor of Toran, who was blessed with the power of Kai. The War was ended in MS 3799, with Vashna cast and his army cast into the Maakengorge, although King Ulnar I perished while fighting him. Vashna's spirit, however, remained intact, and lay in the Maakengorge, awaiting a means to revive him.

In MS 4219, Vashna's successor, Archlord Zagarna, attacked Sommerlund and the Kai Monastery. At the same time, Zakhan Shelta II of Vassagonia attacked the Kirlundin Isles. Holmgard was besieged, until the feats of Kai Grand Master Iron Pearl broke the Darklands army, forcing Zagarna's forces to retreat. After this defeat, Zagarna chose to focus on other targets in Northern Magnamund, including the War of the Lorestone in the Stornlands.

In MS 4935, the Great Fire of Holmgard ravaged the city. King Tor III's heroic actions helped save the city.

Holmgard was besieged again in MS 5050, with Archlord Zagarna unleashing the Second Black Muster, in a rapid invasion of Sommerlund. During the events of Flight from the Dark, a specific force targeted the Order of the Kai during the Feast of Fehmarn, a period where all Kai Lords were gathered in one place and in their least battle-ready state, leading to the Massacre of the Kai, where all Kai Lords were killed, save one, Silent Wolf. Holmgard was besieged soon after, as Silent Wolf, now named "Lone Wolf" to reflect his status, headed to Durenor to retrieve the Sommerswerd. Despite the interventions of Zagarna and Vonotar, Lone Wolf was successful. Lone Wolf then relieved the siege of Holmgard and ended Zagarna's war and life, after blasting him with a concentrated ray of light from the Sommerswerd from the battlements of Holmgard.

Geography

Physical geography

Holmgard is located slightly-north of the middle of Sommerlund. It is located in an auspicious location for a city, with a natural protective harbour and a reliable source of fresh water. It sits at the convergence of the River Unoram and River Eledil, with a tributary of the Eledil, the River Daune, heading north-south, located west of Holmgard. Holmgard itself sits on the coast, with the Rivers Unoram and Eledil flowing through to the Holmgulf to the east, leading to the Kirlundin Straits and eventually the Kaltersee. To the north lies the Kai Protectorate and County of Tyso, and to the south the Southlund Marches and Moytura. The Coastal Highway to Ragadorn heads east, with a fork heading south towards Moytura Pass. To the west lies the Holmgard Plain and eventually the Durncrag Mountains, with roads leading to Fort Clanor and Searsheld, with the latter passing close to the Graveyard of the Ancients.

The surrounding area of Holmgard is known as the Royal Estates, a region of Sommerlund under the direct control of the monarch.

Holmgard has a temperate climate, and the Holmgard Plain has much arable farmland.

As the seat of power of Sommerlund, it is well-protected by a perimeter wall of 200 feet in parts, made of grey-white stone. Seven great gates, two of which by river, surround Holmgard, and can be locked-down and secured during times of war. Within Holmgard, eleven bridges cross the Rivers Unoram and Eledil, two of which after they converge and flow into Holmgard Harbour and into the Kirlundin Straits.

Districts and quarters

The Rivers Unoram (entering from the north) and Eledil (entering from the south-west) naturally split Holmgard into three areas.

Old Quarter

The Old Quarter sits on the north-west banks of the Unoram and Eledil, and was where the Sommlending first settled in Holmgard. This quarter contains many of the Crown and government buildings, and is full of winding streets and passageways. The buildings are also close together, leading to informal paths known as the Roofways, with some jumping between building-to-building to get around. However, over time, the Roofways had begun to crumble and deteriorate, and by MS 5050, the Roofways had been ruled off-limits. It is home to some of Holmgard's most important buildings, including the Bank of Sommerlund, the Royal Mint, the High Court, Holmgard College, the College of Surgeons, the Royal Library, and the King's Citadel.

West Residential Quarter

The West Residential Quarter is the north-westernmost quarter of Sommerlund, and is where the Army of the North and the judiciary reside.

Guild Quarter

The Guild Quarter is located south of the West Residential Quarter, and is the home of the rich and powerful of Sommerlund. Its buildings are made of finely-crafted granite blocks, and decorated with Kirlundin white stone, giving it a grandeur that makes the rest of Holmgard look run-down.

North Residential Quarter

The North Residential Quarter is located between the River Unoram and Holmgard Harbour. It is the home of Holmgard's middle class and artisans, and few nobles.

The Bazaar

The Bazaar is located south of the North Residential Quarter, and is a place of entertainment and festivals.

Merchants' Market

Merchants' Market is located at the convergence of the Unoram and Eledil. Established in MS 3488, it was one of the first markets throughout Holmgard, operating every day at sunrise and closing an hour after sunset.

South Residential Quarter

The South Residential Quarter is located west of Merchants' Market, on the banks of the Eledil. Predominantly a residential quarter, it is a hotpot of Holmgard's classes, with unskilled labourers to wealthy nobles in their separate neighbourhoods.

The Slums

The Slums are located to the far south of Holmgard, and contain the poorest and most dangerous parts of Sommlending society.

The Seafarers' Quadrant

The Seafarers' Quadrant is the eastern-most district of Holmgard, located south of Holmgard Harbour. As the name suggests, this district focuses on seafaring activity, with busy mercantile ports to the north, and living quarters to the south. It is also where the Holmgulf Fleet is based.

In addition to the overland network of streets, there is a network of canals within Holmgard, known as the King's Subterranean Canal System. These canals are restricted to the Royal Household and Guildsmen of Holmgard, with secret entrances and exits known to few. One route leads directly to the Royal Citadel itself. This waterway network also provides fresh, potable water that is made available through handpumps throughout Holmgard, and has helped prevent a second Great Fire of Holmgard.

Politics

Holmgard is ruled by the Monarch of Sommerlund as their domain. As the seat of power of Sommerlund, it is where the laws of Sommerlund are made, by the Monarch, advised by their Privy Council, and supervised by the Chancellor of the Realm.

In Holmgard, murder is punishable by death, and is carried out in Unoram Park or the King's Guard Barracks. Prisoners are housed in a large dungeon beneath the Royal Keep.

Economy

Holmgard possesses a healthy, vibrant economy. Its location by land and sea allows it to trade extensively, particularly with Sommlending ally Durenor. It imports goods from all over Northern Magnamund, including silks and cloth from Dessi, wine and horse armour from Lencia, crystal from Caron, furnishings from Talestria, and spices from both Vassagonia and Cloeasia.

Demographics

The people of Holmgard are known as "Holmgarders". In MS 5000, its population was approximately 120,000. During festivals such as the Feast of Fehmarn, Holmgard's population swells.

Holmgard's position as a centre of trade means that it has a large transient population, most of which come from the realms of the Freelands Alliance. A sizeable Durenese community also lives in Holmgard, where most work as traders and artisans.

In Lone Wolf media

Holmgard is not the setting of any of the gamebooks, but it is visited in passing in several, most prominently in the Kai series. The first book in the series, Flight from the Dark, chronicles the player's journey, as Lone Wolf, journey from the Kai Monastery to Holmgard during Archlord Zagarna's invasion. The next book, Fire on the Water, begins in Holmgard, and ends with the player's return with the Sommerswerd, which is used to destroy Zagarna. Beyond this point, Holmgard is only visited in passing, and more often than not, merely mentioned off-hand. Dawn of the Dragons is the most notable of these, as the player enters Holmgard en route to the Kai Monastery, to break a siege by Lavas from a Shadow Gate.

Similarly, in the New Order series, the player, as Grand Master, largely only makes sporadic appearances in Holmgard, although Lone Wolf often has business with the King in Holmgard, such as in Vampirium.

Holmgard is explored more often in non-gamebook media. In the Lone Wolf Anthology, it is explored in Forty Days, Fate's Crown (possibly), and Salt, Yeast and Hope.

Within the roleplaying games, the final scene of chapter 2 of Book of Kai Legends takes place in Holmgard.

Sources

• Dever, Joe [2017]. The Realm of Sommerlund. Cubicle 7, pp. 70–86. 

External Links

• Map of Holmgard