Doma
Doma was comfortably nestled between Marka and Etxera, from the southern side of the Wickwood Cliffs to the eastern banks of the Seneng River. Once a heavily-forested paradise, the exquisite beauty was lost because of the war; unlike Etxera or Nivasa, however, the former Wickwood Forest was lost so that others may rebuild rather than at the hands of Vescania. Gnomes from Doma are referred to as the Wick.
The Wick, perhaps more than any other group that can be traced back to The Mass Dying, have lived mostly peaceful lives. Even in the first couple months, years, and decades after The Great Sacrifice, they managed to distract, lure away, or hide from those evil entities that roamed the area. For one reason or another, those evils left before long, leaving a beautiful countryside with plenty of amenities that would serve the Wick well.
Beneath what used to be the Wickwood Forest were large quartz tunnels with smooth crystals and other chemical compounds best used for the tinkering Gnomes are so fond of. Most of the Wick are certain the caverns spontaneously appeared for the betterment of Vals'kar and they often express a genuine appreciation for them, though they keep its entrances a secret.
Joyful Tinkering
Even before the Human migrants made their trip to settle Marka, the Wick would make journeys to the Cairnbrow Mountains in search of alchemical ingredients. They were a nimble, happy lot that generally avoided confrontation with the aggressive wildlife between Doma and the mountains and few of them perished along the way. Aside from getting materials to prank one another with, the Wick also met the Halflings of Etxera and the Elves of Nivasa along their journeys and became fast friends. At some point, the Wick took a liking to competitive tinkering and engineering and this is where the most rapid of their technological development occurred. In keeping with good sport, the winner of any given competition would dismantle his or her creation and share the steps of its creation, that the next contest would result in an even greater inventions.A Budding Alliance
When the migrant Humans first made landfall in present day Rustport, the Wick observed from a distance as they had never met Humans before. They possessed a similar curiosity to the Wick, but they also were quicker to anger and so they kept their distance. Upon seeing the creation of Highburg's tall walls, the Wick convinced themselves the Humans wanted to be left alone and decided to grant them their wish rather than introduce themselves. They knew when the time came, the Humans would make the journey across the Seneng. It took less than a decade for their prophecy to come true, and they welcomed the Humans to Doma with open arms. To the Wick's delight, the Humans were fascinated with their tinkering and engineering prowess and they eagerly shared their methodologies with them in exchange for their joyous company. When Marka reached out to Doma for Unification, the Wick agreed without hesitation. They never really anticipated the idea that they themselves would go to war; even though that was an incorrect calculation, there isn't a single Wick who would voice regret or complaints about their involvement.The Dark Side of Life
When Doma received word from Etxera that Vescania had attempted to cross their plains on the way to Marka, trapping almost all of their population, the Wick got to work on creating a plan to rescue them. Having never gone to war or seen violence on a large scale, they struggled comprehending the scale of what they were up against; a small group of Wick went to rescue Etxera and met their death at the hands of the frustrated and immobile Vescanian military. When they didn't return, the Wick went to Marka and asked for combative training and guidance on how to assist. Their knowledge of engineering and light-hearted spirits put them at the forefront of troop movements, where they built roads, bridges, and walls with unmatched alacrity. Their exposure to the battlefields and broken morale of those who had experienced combat did little to sully their spirits, but instead inspired the Wick to do more for Astagua and the rest of Vals'kar. The training they received was too little, too late in the scope of the war. Though it dragged on for 11 more years after the failed rescue mission to Etxera, The Unified Council saw their usefulness in scheming, planning, and developing rather than on the front lines. The Wick didn't mind either way; they didn't seek to perform violence on others, they just wanted to help their new countrymen.Goodbye Doma, Hello Vals'kar
At the end of the war, the Wick were more keen than ever on seeing the rest of the world and the ways they could help it. Duke Hastios Valfir of Nivasa convened with Baron Ulviras Grassfoot, that he might harvest Wickwood Forest for reparations across Astagua. Like the rest of the Wick he represented, he was happy to oblige. For every house rebuilt with the trees of Wickwood Forest, the Wick kept one board for themselves. By the time Astagua was nearly rebuilt and Wickwood Forest was almost entirely harvested, leaving but pockets of young saplings across the hills, they had enough wood to construct two ships: The Gone and But Not Forgotten. These ships, which sail primarily out of Wickwood city on the south-eastern coast of Astagua, are used primarily to support those Gnomes that wish to see the world. What lumber they had left over from their ships would have been enough to build a third ship, but the Wick saw better uses for it. First, they built the Kille Memorial on a small island off the eastern coast of Astagua, parallel to the massacred fields. What was left from that they brought inland, to the new village of Kille. The Wick remain joyous as ever, even though the home they built was largely sacrificed to save others. They now travel Vals'kar, usually in small groups, to find the places in most dire need of assistance. They always remember that though they failed in Etxera, they are not fated to fail elsewhere.
Founding Date
The Mass Dying
Type
Geopolitical, Barony
Demonym
Doman
Leader
Related Species
Related Ethnicities
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