Yolden is a Drake border city located in Izril.
Geography[edit | edit source]
Yolden is located even higher in elevation than Hectval and closest to Drisshia. It is based around an enchanted mountain called Yodemite. The mountain is a source of pumice, lighter stones,[1] and magicore.[2]
Layout[edit | edit source]
Yolden is a rural collection of twenty-two widely-spaced towns around Yodemite, protected by a curtain wall they call the Big Wall. It has pastures and a lot of land area.[1]
Culture[edit | edit source]
Due to their settlement layout, they are led by township councils. The stones that fall from the unpredictable Yodemite mountain is the reason they've developed their unique helmets. Even children wear those helmets, and only take them off indoors.[1] They mine their mountain, and the magicore they get from it would've made them richer if Yolden was more accessible.[2]
Yoldenites have a twist on Drake possessiveness. In Yolden, objects left out in the open are free to use. Things one doesn't want their guests to touch are hidden, which is nearly everything.[1] They are a very cheerful people.
They use unique expressions, like "Yayde Re!" and "Doine!".[1]
Anthem[edit | edit source]
“♪Ooooh. Oooooh, oooh oo~♬”
(female verse)
“They’ll look high and then look low—
—But we’re higher than you’ll know
When we draw our slings they’ll hear us cry.”
(male verse)
“A Walled City’s got a few neat sights
But you’ve never seen a wall like ours
(mixed)
Yayde Re—keep a helmet on your head!”
“They’ve got crossbows, bows, wands, and swords
But so long as it comes from overhead I won’t feel a thing
So I’ll keep a helmet on my head and breakfast in my pack
For music I’ll toss a stone and hear their helmets ring!”
“They’ve got [Archmages] and they’ve got Named-ranks.
They’ll set them at our flanks, but so long as I’ve got a rock we’ll be fine.”
“Send a catapult or bring a hundred mauls
You’ll never get past Big Wall
Yayde Re, keep your helmet on your head!”
Military Strength[edit | edit source]
Each town in Yolden has its own force. The Yoldenite army is known for their complex helmet-shoulderguards that are heavily armored upwards. They are infused with Magicore. They resemble [Knight] helms but are form-adhering and made to resemble a dragon's head. They even make versions for their horses. There is a saying that "You can't kill a Yoldenite from above". The rest of their gear is typically leather or iron, due to Drisshia having control of the local iron mines, making it harder for them to have access to steel. They thus mainly field skirmishers and use slings instead of bows. They mostly ride ponies, not horses.[1]
History[edit | edit source]
According to Teriarch, Yolden is located in the former domain of Gravity Dragons.[3]
Yolden did not suffer sieges during the Antinium Wars, as the Black Tide attacked Luldem instead.
The Liscorian Army would commission gear from Yolden when they were in the area. They've never been hired to fight them, as there's no profit in doing so.
Yolden has lost several wars against Drisshia and its allies, even when joining forces with Naughtl and Fillen, though they've never passed the Big Wall. Yolden has had to pay tribute to them, mainly in the form of sheep. When a road past the Bloodfields opened up, Yolden debated sending a delegation to Liscor, but Hectval sent one first.
During the Liscor-Hectval War, a delegation of 19 Drakes approached Liscor's camp to make an offer of alliance against the Hectval-Luldem-Drisshia Alliance, to fight back against their bullying and hoping to get control of some of Drisshia's mines. Olesm grilled them to make sure they would pledge adequate forces and not just use them, then accepted.
Two thousand Yoldenite soldiers entered the war. During their initial entry, they were unprepared for the intensity of the fighting, suffering casualties to a volley from Hectval and Luldem forces refusing to surrender. They also would use the war as opportunity to obtain better gear from the enemy.
When the Alliance retreated, Olesm intended to honor the agreement with Yolden to secure them a mine, and have the new army patrol the area to prevent Drisshia from taking it back.[1]
Notable Inhabitants[edit | edit source]
- [Mayors]
- Brieese
- Lemel
- Zollost
- Voita