History of Western Stoldavia

History of Western Stoldavia

The history of Western Stoldavia has witnessed intermittent periods of competition and cooperation between the Aldsay and Dölmer peoples. Early Western Stoldavic history is sparse. Corinthas, writing shortly after the fall of Skiuöldavik in 5713, describes the Aldsegians as wild, savage, and impatient, even to their own kings. The Aldsay of Western Stoldavia were a loose confederation of elected tribal chiefdoms. Corinthas mentions several tribes of Alsegian peoples inhabiting Stoldavia, including the Ælsati, Ævendil, Diari, Ætlii, Ærivarii, Skadii, and Skjoldii, all defended by slow forded rivers or dense forests. They universally worshiped Æðel, their deity.

First Stoldavic Empire

For five thousand years, the Dölmer culture embarked on a haphazard campaign of expansion against the Stoldavic Aldsay. Their advance faced challenges from the unforgiving Stoldavian winters and geography. Around 5200, the Dölmer's development of crop rotation and cultural unity under the Orkanan faith allowed them to make gains against the semi-nomadic Aldsay. The Dölmer eventually forced the nomadic Aldsay people from Vittmark, central Stoldavia. However, even at its peak, the Orkanan Realm of Stoldavia was unable to permanently remove the Aldsay from northwestern Stoldavian wilderness. The "civilized" Kingdom of the Ælsatings became a Skiuöldavik tributary, while other uncivilized kingdoms resisted Skiuöldavik's domination.

Golden Age of the Aldsay

The collapse of the First Stoldavic Empire coincided with the Migration Period in Anaria. The Aldsay culture made progress during this dark age, removing the Dölmer ruling class from Villand and Aelsass in 5983. Local Aldsay fully adopted agriculture, and only a few tribes remained semi-nomadic. The Aldsay launched counter invasions into central Stoldavia between 6100 and 6250. At their apex in 6235, Aldsay tribes controlled half of Stoldavia and sacked Skiuöldavik. Aldsegian adventurers, pirates, and settlers traveled from Western Stoldavia and southern Juørveh to distant lands, with the Aldsegian presence remaining in Cykeria, Alaun, Tanais, and Achilleion.

Before the Migration Period, Skiuöldavik's domination led to the displacement of semi-nomadic Alsegian tribes along the empire's western frontiers. Historians confirm this displacement, suggesting Aldsegian migration was encouraged by new sailing technologies, competition among local tribes, shortage of women, climatic changes, and news of more temperate lands to the southwest.