s far back in time as the legends and tales of the bards go, Holmgaard was always a peaceful kingdom where flourishing prosperity favored the expansion of commerce, roads and the exploration of navigeable sea routes ...

Holmgaard was a powerful realm that guided the destiny of Sommerlund

The magnificent Fortress dominating Kilkgaard

ts king, the wise Goromundir, lived in his magnificent fortress at Kilkgaard in SomHolmgaard and reigned in a just manner over his people. His passion for science had allowed Holmgaard to rise above the obscurity of the other realms in Sommerlund and benefit from an advanced technology : buildings whose flamboyant architecture rivalled the heights of the heavens, magnificently constructed bridges and roads, a naval fleet comprised of ships that each year expanded the limits of the known world.

f course, this magnificence provoked the jealousy of neighboring kingdoms, but none dared to challenge the military power of Holmgaard, which had one of the best armies in Sommerlund.

This delicate equilibrum endured for centuries and Holmgaard, not being stingy with its knowledge and achievements, shone like the polestar, refined and wise, of Sommerlund's civilization.

The mines of Moytura were ruled by the dwarves who dug in the earth indefatigably in their joyous quest for precious metals. They furnished Holmgaard with gold, silver, crystal, diamonds and other stones which were coveted throughout Sommerlund for their purity and brilliance...
The crystal of Holmgaard, highly prized by magicians, was reknowned for its ability to facilitate the invocation of occult forces through its pure, translucid properties...


The pass of Moytura is visible
from the forests of Kirlundin.
The plume of smoke rises from the forges of
Moytura, in the profound depths Anskaven.

The mysterious Elfic forest of Kirlundin.
Few humans know it well enough
to determine if the the legends of the magnificent
cities are justified or not ...
 he forest country of Kirlundin sheltered the most ancient and wise races of Elves of Sommerlund. Legends tell that here lay the most beautiful Elfic cities ever to have been seen by humans...
The Elfic people lived there, reclusively, in harmony with nature and, even though they maintained very amicable relations with Kilkgaard, they mixed rarely in the affairs of humans.

Their talents as trackers and archers meant that they were much sought after by the Holmgaard army. Those Elves who decided to leave Kirlundin in order to discover the human world found that they were warmly welcomed and held in high esteem.

Some of these emigrant, adventurer Elves founded a community, small but very well-respected, in the forest of Kalimah, at the gates of Kilkgaard.
Many of the Royal Army archers came from here and they were often invited to join the Royal Guard which protects the King.

outh of Holmgaard, the land known as LunHolmgaard was the breadbasket of the kingdom: its vast cultivated fields dotted with villages and farms...
It was in LunHolmgaard, notably at Galadorn, that the powerful horses of the Lord-Knights of Holmgaard were raised.

All of this region of the kingdom, being far from Kilkgaard, was entrusted to the direction of these Lords who divided LunHolmgaard into a multitude of small fiefdoms or "Domains".

While this situation might have tempted some men with its deceitful promise of easy power, each Lord used the distance from Kilkgaard as an incentive to demonstrate the depths of his responsibility and honor in contributing to the power and grandeur of the Kingdom.


The smocking ruins of Sir Lothar's castle after an
Orcish raid on the LunHolmgaard

The eternal snows of Anskaven
This mountain chain is one of the highest in Sommerlund.

he north of LunHolmgaard was dominated by the mountains of Anskaven -- the highest peak could be seen from Sommerlund.

The Anskaven mountains were in the territory of the dwarves who mined at many sites in this range, created mine-cities such as the magnificent Moytura and plumbed the profound depths of the earth in digging their wells.

Because these mountians were impassable in winter and difficult to access in summer due to the eternal snowfall, the dwarves excavated ten enormous tunnels through the Anskaven range to facilitate their commerce in SomHolmgaard and LunHolmgaard. These tunnels, true masterpieces of dwarf craft, ran under the entire surface of the mountain and connected the foothills of Anskaven and the bridge of Unoram, the only land access to SomHolmgaard.

noram ! ... Today this name belongs to one of the masterpieces of Holmgaard architecture, but in earlier times the name was carried by one of the greatest heroes of Sommerlund.
Unoram was a courageous captain who distinguished himself during the Great Orc invasion. The Orcs had invaded all of the high countries of Holmgaard in marauding swarms, established a base in the desert of Gorn and dug in for a long siege on Kilkgaard.
The Orcs cut Kilkgaard's supply lines and Goromundir knew that the forests of Kalimah could not furnish enough provisions to withstand a prolonged attack... The invasion had come too quickly and Kilkgaard, lulled by centuries of peace, was slow to react.
The King decided to send a regiment of his best soldiers to destroy the Orc camp.
The campaign was a success and Unoram drove the enemy back to the Gulf of Egen where the Orcs who had not fallen under the raging Holmgaard swords perished by drowning.
Unoram was lauded upon his return to the city, appointed as captain of the King's personal guard and his name was given to the fortified bridge constructed to protect the access to the Sea of Hemd in commemoration of his heroic feat.
To Follow : The Great Orcish Invasion ...