Despotate of Gratrincia

The icy wastes of Gratrincia is a land of harsh and almost inhospitable climate. It’s frozen peaks and snowed in forests prove difficult to survive in, even for it’s most well-suited inhabitants. The population of Gratrincia is made up of the native Northerners, Snow Lypen that had fled Beauvais as refugees and Snow Thirioan who had been taken from their homeland of Witnecast and finally the Snow Elves.

The Snow Elves were banished to Gratrincia after a bloody civil war with the Wood Elves who had deemed the Snow Elves as third-rate citizens due to their inability to attune with the trees. The war resulted in the Snow Elves being banished to the west.

Due to their several natural advantages to the natives such as a longer life span, they were quick to establish themselves in Gratrincia as the rulers of the land. They imposed heavy taxes on the Northerners and enslaved many to do agricultural work as they couldn’t themselves.

While it was clear who the superior beings were in Gratrincia, it wasn't so clear as to who was to lead. The two largest and most powerful noble families of snow elves were House Rowen and House Aldurr who quickly began clashing over who should lead the nation. The result was a bloody civil war between the two houses which began when House Aldurr pillaged one of House Rowen's farms and murdered one of the nobles as an attempt to display their superiority.

After countless assassinations and raids on each house's side and their supporters, a battle was held which would later be named "The Frosted Fray". It earned its name due to the great atrocity committed by House Aldurr to win the war. They used an alchemical substance known as "Snær Song". Snær Song is a substance created by the greatest alchemists of House Aldurr to simulate the effects of an ice dragon's breath. It is a swirling, almost icy blue in colour mist that's contained in a specially resistant glass. It was thrown over the lines by Aldurr foot soldiers and its effects included an explosion of cold that freezes its victims, impaling them upon icy spikes. It took House Rowen and its followers by surprise and caused many casualties on both sides, as the substance would sometimes self-detonate on unskilled foot soldiers who had no experience or training on how to use such a weapon.

With House Aldurr winning the war and House Rowen forced to bend at the the knee, the nation was divided politically by the lesser houses who resented one another after the war. In order to calm the minds of the people the leading figure of House Aldurr proclaimed himself Alfer. The Alfer holds the most power out of all the members of the Snow Elf Public. They hold compete and utter power over the nation and they bear the "Cold Crown" The Alfer has up to three trusted head warriors known as Jarls. They also hold some responsibilities within Gratrincia but only to the extent the Alfer allows.

The Cold Crown

An artefact said to be created after the elder of House Rowen was defeated in battle and his crown exposed to Snær Song. Somehow, the relic survived and wasn't shattered and ever since it has been a sign of an Alfer’s rule and a trophy of the victory. It’s properties include it being extremely cold to touch no matter the condition. Rumours say that the souls of the Rowen whisper illegibly into the mind of the Alfer but this may just be an excuse for an Alfer’s unwise decisions or unreasonable behaviour. Wearing The Cold Crown is not uncomfortable to the wearer despite its close to freezing temperature but aside from this it holds no other magical properties.